Zoltán Kész Explained

Zoltán Kész (born 22 January 1974 in Veszprém, Hungary) is a Hungarian civil activist, former politician and English language teacher. He is a former member of Fidesz but has since become an independent critic of their policies.^[1] Kész is now considered a significant member of the political and civil society opposition in Hungary.^[2]

In February 2015, a by-election was held in the city of Veszprém, and Kész was elected as an independent center right candidate. This election lost Fidesz its supermajority in the National Assembly.^{[3] [4]} Facing electoral opposition from the majority government, he was defeated in his re-election bid in 2018.^[5]

Since leaving office, Kész has held a number of positions in Hungarian civil society and free market nonprofit groups, including the Free Market Foundation in Hungary and the Civitas Institute.^{[6] [7]}

In 2022, Kész joined the staff of the international consumer advocacy group Consumer Choice Center in 2022 as European Affairs Manager.^{[8] [9]}

Notes and References

1. News: Viktor Orban is not the conservative you are looking for. Washington Examiner. 4 August 2023.
2. News: Márki-Zayt és Készt fogadták az amerikai külügyminisztériumban, de nem mondják meg, kicsoda. . 13 March 2019 . hu.
3. News: Hungarian PM Orban loses two-thirds 'super-majority'. BBC News. 22 February 2015.
4. News: Hungarians Elect Free Market Advocate in By-Election, Right-Wing Ruling Party Loses Supermajority. . 5 February 2019 .
5. News: Kész Zoltán elbukta Veszprémet, gratulált a fideszes legyőzőjének. . 8 April 2018 .
6. Web site: Zoltán Kész: The Liberal Who Took Away Orbán´s Supermajority . 4liberty.eu . 24 February 2015 .
7. Web site: The Brussels Report Podcast Episode 8 – with former Hungarian MP Zoltan Kesz . Brussels Report . 26 July 2021 .
8. Web site: Former Hungarian MP Zoltán Kész joins Consumer Choice Center Staff . Consumer Choice Center . 4 October 2022 .
9. News: Free-market advocacy group Consumer Choice Center named former Hungarian MP Zoltán Kész a government affairs manager. . 6 October 2022 .