Orban’s Fate At Stake in Record Hungarian Vote: What to Watch

Viktor Orban speaks to voters on April 11.

Photographer: Janos Kummer/Getty Images 

Hungarians are voting in record numbers on Sunday in an election that could end Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s 16-year hold on power — and deprive Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump of their closest ally in Europe.

Orban faces his strongest challenge yet from a former ruling elite insider, Peter Magyar. Over the past two years, his Tisza party has rallied Hungarians by playing on discontent with rampant corruption, a cost-of-living crisis and the poor state of public services.