BUDAPEST, Hungary: Hungary's former nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán, who lost power after 16 years in an election in April, has called on his supporters to restore democracy. He said that the new government has destroyed democracy in the country.

Orbán made his first strong political comments since his heavy election defeat late on July 21 through a Facebook post. He issued what he called a "Statement of Resistance" shortly after his Fidesz party said that prosecutors had searched offices where its internet servers are located.

Prosecutors told Reuters in an email that the action was connected to an investigation into suspected misuse of funds and other crimes at the National Culture Fund (NKA) during Orbán's time in government.

Orbán said that Hungary is no longer a democratic state after the new center-right government led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar passed a constitutional amendment. According to Orbán, this amendment ended the terms of both the president and the head of the constitutional court.

Magyar's Tisza party has denied accusations that it is acting in an authoritarian way toward political opponents. The party has promised to reduce corruption, which it says was widespread under Orbán's government, as part of its effort to bring Hungary back in line with the European Union.

Orbán himself faced strong criticism during his time in power over democratic standards in Hungary. His government often clashed with the European Union on issues such as the rule of law and the rights of minorities.

Orbán has denied all corruption allegations.

He said that a period of tyranny had begun again in Hungary. He also said that the new political system created in this way is not legitimate, and that Fidesz will use all peaceful means, both inside and outside parliament, to oppose what he described as abuse of power.

Magyar's Tisza party holds a large majority in parliament, which allows it to reverse changes introduced during Orbán's time in office that Magyar says weakened democracy.

The constitutional amendment ended the term of President Tamás Sulyok, stating that there had been a serious loss of public trust in him. Sulyok had been elected in 2024 by lawmakers from Orbán's Fidesz party. Parliament is expected to elect a new president soon.

Magyar's Tisza party currently enjoys strong public support. A poll by the polling company Median earlier in the month showed that 60 percent of voters support Tisza, compared to 18 percent for Fidesz. Since the election, Fidesz has faced internal problems, including the resignation of its parliamentary group leader last week.