Current Fidesz parliamentary group leader János Lázár will take over as state secretary of the Prime Minister’s office and will be replaced as the head of ruling party’s caucus by Antal Rogán, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán revealed in a radio interview this morning. Meanwhile, Mihály Varga, who currently holds the role of “chief of staff” to Orbán, will replace Tamás Fellegi in leading the delicate negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and European Union over a new financial rescue package for the country.
It had been widely anticipated that Orbán would make several key changes to his team at the halfway point in his current term, and in making his announcement today he said there would be no further changes to the cabinet.
Orbán said that Rogán, who currently serves as both chairman of Parliament’s economic committee and mayor of Budapest’s District V, had the support of other party leaders.
Unlike Rogán, who can continue in his role as mayor while caucus leader, Lázár will have to step down as mayor of the Southeastern town of Hódmezővásárhely.
Orbán also said that in the future, three state secretaries would work in the Prime Minister’s Office: two focusing on legislative issues and the third handling communications for the PM.
