Hungarians decide whether to end 16 years of Orban rule

Hungarians are going to the polls in a vote that could bring down longtime Prime Minister Viktor Orban and have significant consequences for the rest of Europe, the US and Russia, writes BBC.

Most polls favour Péter Magyar, who formed a base party after being separated from the ruling Fidesz party, but the night before the Obán vote was in a challenging mood.

We will achieve such a victory that will surprise everyone, perhaps even ourselves”, he told several thousand supporters in a small square on the Castle Hill in Budapest.

The vote is held by 7: 00 a.m. (17:00 GMT) and results will begin to emerge during the evening.

Orbán stepped up tensions before the vote, claiming the opposition “would stop at nothing to take power”, and Hungarians responded by urging voters not to submit to “pression and blackmail of Fidesz”.

After 16 years that Orbán led Hungary with what the European Parliament called a “hybrid regime of electoral autocratia”, Magyar and his party Tisza are promising “a change of regime”, a restoration of relations with the European Union and an end to close relations with Russia.

He drew far more people to his final rally in the second largest city of Debrecen than Orbán in Budapest.

But Orbán remains highly esteemed by US President Donald Trump, who has called on the Hungarians of “dal and vote” for his true “enemy, warrior and FITURIN”.

Addressing supporters Saturday evening, Fidesz's leader adhered to key topics of his campaign, targeting Brussels and Ukraine. “We don't give our children, we don't give them our weapons and we don't give them our money”, he said.

His message echoed the crowd, which cheered “we will not allow that to happen”.

One supporter, Johanna, said he supports his family protection policies and especially the war in Ukraine.

He has tried to be a winner four times in a row, but a fifth consecutive victory could be beyond his ability.

The economy is going through difficulties and it has been hit by a series of scandals, including findings that Foreign Minister Péter Szijártó regularly spoke to his Russian counterpart before and after the European Union summits, which he has accepted.

Hungary is not only in the EU, it is also in NATO, but Orbán has vetoed 90 billion euros (78 billion pounds) in aid to Ukraine, angering its European partners. /Kosovo priss