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 became a noted independent critic against 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, thus Viktor Orbán's national conservative Fidesz lost its supermajority in the National Assembly.^{[3] [4]} Facing fierce 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 .