For 16 years, Hungary’s prime minister has exerted an outsized influence. Viktor Orbán has been a model for strongmen leaders in building what he calls an “illiberal democracy”, a standard-bearer for anti-migrant nationalist conservatism, an obstacle to support for Ukraine and a thorn in the side of the EU. He is both chummy with Vladimir Putin and lauded by Donald Trump. But, for the first time since 2010, he faces a real prospect of defeat at the polls next Sunday. Not often does an election in a EU state of fewer than 10mn people attract such international attention.
16年来，匈牙利总理的影响力大得超乎寻常。维克托•欧尔班(Viktor Orbán)既是打造其所谓“非自由民主”的强人政治样板，也是反移民民族保守主义的旗手、对支持乌克兰的阻碍因素以及欧盟的眼中钉。他既与弗拉基米尔•普京(Vladimir Putin)关系密切，又受到唐纳德•特朗普(Donald Trump)的称赞。然而，自2010年以来，他首次在下周日的选举中面临真实的败选风险。一个人口不足1000万的欧盟成员国的选举，很少会引来如此多的国际关注。