00:04The most important vote in Europe for a long time is taking place this weekend in Hungary.
00:09After 16 years in power, Viktor Orban, Europe's longest serving leader, is seeking re-election
00:16on Sunday.
00:17In power since 2010, Orban has had the support of both the US President Donald Trump and
00:23the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
00:26Orban was the first European leader to support Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
00:31Last month, Trump said of Orban, I hope he wins, and I hope he wins big.
00:37US Vice President J.D. Vance has travelled to Budapest this week to offer a last-minute
00:43boost to Orban's campaign ahead of his most challenging parliamentary election yet.
00:49Sunday's election will see voters decide on the country's future direction.
00:53TOWARDS EUROPEAN STYLE LIBERAL DEMOCRACY OR TOWARDS AN AUTHORITARIAN MODEL INSPIRED BY RUSSIA.
01:01OPPOSITION LEADER PETER MAYA HAS BUILT HIS CAMPAIGN ON PROMISES TO RESTORE HUNGARY'S WESTERN
01:07ORIENTATION TOWARDS THE EU AND NATO.
01:10Most opinion polls put Maia and his opposition TISA party 10% ahead of Orban's Fidesz party.
01:18The latest poll has Maia at 49% over Orban's 39%.
01:24Orban has long been a thorn in the side of the EU, and one of the few European leaders
01:29not supportive of Ukraine.
01:31According to a leaked phone call, Orban reportedly told Putin he was willing to go to great lengths
01:36to assist the Russian president.
01:38During his campaign, Orban's party has cast Ukraine and its leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy,
01:44as the enemy.
01:45Giant billboards feature a smiling Zelenskyy alongside the slogan, Don't let Zelenskyy
01:52have the last laugh.
01:52Orban is the most pro-Russian leader in the EU, and his defeat would be a significant blow
02:00to Putin, Trump and the international populist movement the world over.
02:05Although the election is impossible to call, whichever way Hungary votes will have a dramatic
02:10impact on the future of the European continent.
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