Kövér László (born December 29, 1959, in Pápa) is a Hungarian lawyer and politician, and one of the founding members of Fidesz in 1988. He has been a Member of Parliament continuously since 1990 and has served as Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly since 2010, making him one of the longest-serving parliamentary speakers in Europe.
He briefly acted as interim President of Hungary in 2012 and again in 2024, following the resignations of Schmitt Pál and Novák Katalin, until a new president was elected.
Politically, Kövér is considered one of the most ideologically hardline figures within Fidesz. He is widely described as Viktor Orbán’s closest political ally and enforcer—often referred to as Orbán’s “right hand”. While Orbán sets the strategic direction, Kövér is known for strictly enforcing party discipline, shaping parliamentary norms, and defending the government’s illiberal political vision.
He represents the national-conservative, anti-liberal core of the Fidesz system and is a frequent critic of liberal democracy, civil society organizations, and the European Union’s political institutions.
According to Hungary’s Influence Barometer (2020), Kövér László was ranked as the 14th most influential person in the country, reflecting his behind-the-scenes power rather than public popularity.