Why All Eyes Are Turning to Hungary’s Election

Hungarians will head to the ballot box on April 12 for their most consequential election in years, with Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s 16-year premiership facing its biggest threat. Recent polling suggests Europe’s longest-serving leader and enduring illiberal spoiler could witness defeat at the hands of Péter Magyar’s opposition Tisza Party.

Orban, 62, has spent decades consolidating power by installing loyalists across state institutions and the media landscape. This dominance has provided a powerful megaphone for his government’s agenda, establishing a national echo chamber in which he has sought to stoke anti-migrant fears. But he’s also managed to build a loyal following and achieved some economic success in his early years. In this Bloomberg Originals weekly documentary, we explore how Orbán built one of Europe’s most durable political machines, and why it’s now at risk.

The race is being closely watched in Brussels, where European Union leaders see an opposition victory potentially auguring a new day for relations with their sometimes-intransigent member. Also watching are Orbán’s friends in Washington, Moscow and Beijing. Orbán has made a habit of obstructing European decision-making, slowing NATO expansion amid Russian aggression and delaying billions of dollars in financial aid to Ukraine.