Fidesz politician László Őri resigns, denies accountability concerns

László Őri, a long-serving Fidesz politician and president of the Baranya County Assembly, has announced his resignation from public life after fifteen years. In an interview with local outlet Pécs Aktuál, Őri stated he is stepping down from his role as assembly president and will return his mandate, citing structural and organizational changes within Fidesz as well as a desire to spend more time with his family. He emphasized that the decision was entirely his own, that no one asked him to resign, and that he did not consult party leadership or Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in advance.

Őri, who also served as the party's district chairman in Pécs, has deleted his political Facebook page in recent days. He denied any fear of potential accountability proceedings, asserting that he has performed his duties lawfully, honestly, and with integrity. “I am leaving with a clear conscience,” he said. “I did my work to the best of my ability, lawfully, honestly, correctly, and paying attention to human relationships.”

Őri’s political career began in 2010 when he became a member of the Pécs General Assembly. He served as deputy mayor of Pécs from 2014, and in 2019 he was elected president of the Baranya County Assembly. He also became the head of the local Fidesz electoral district after Péter Csizi’s defeat in 2018, a position that was recently abolished by Orbán as part of a structural reorganization reverting to a 1990s-style setup.

Őri will formally submit his resignation in writing during a visit to Brussels on Thursday, meaning he will not attend the county assembly session that day. He plans to work as a lawyer after leaving politics but expressed willingness to continue supporting Baranya County with his knowledge, experience, and network if needed. Meanwhile, Nagy Csaba is expected to replace Őri as the head of the county assembly, pending approval by county representatives.