The Guardian view on Hungaryâs election: a bellwether contest for the global far right | Editorial
Defeat for Viktor Orbán on Sunday would be celebrated in Brussels, mourned in Washington and Moscow, and would give his country its democracy back Hungary has a population of less than 10 million and an economy that produces a modest 1.1% of the European Unionâs GDP. But on Sunday it will hold the most important election in Europe this year. After 16 years as prime minister, during which he has dismantled the checks and balances customary in a democracy, Viktor Orbán faces the most serious threat to his power in that time. Polls consistently place the centreâright party led by his main challenger, Péter Magyar, ahead by a substantial margin. Mr Orbán was once described by Donald Trumpâs former adviser Steve Bannon as âTrump before Trumpâ. In his political hour of need, luminaries of the global far right have duly turned up en masse to support him. Last month, Marine Le Pen, Matteo Salvini and Geert Wilders made the pilgrimage to Budapest. This week, the US vice-president, JD Vance, paid a tubâthumping election-eve visit, as his boss issued apocalyptic threats to have Iran âtaken out in one nightâ. Risibly, given the explicit purpose of his trip, Mr Vance sp
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