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The house that Viktor built

The Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban, has won a fourth consecutive term. But how dangerous is the war in Ukraine for him and for Hungary?

The Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban, has won a fourth consecutive term. The election took place against the background of a war on Hungary’s border, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February.

Mr Orban is proud of the personal relationship he has established with Vladimir Putin, and proud of what he calls the β€œHungarian Model”, whereby Hungary has membership of Nato and the EU on the one hand and strong political and economic relations with Russia on the other. Russia, for example, fulfils the vast majority of Hungary’s gas needs.

Nick Thorpe, who has lived in Hungary since the 1980s, asks how the edifice that Mr Orban has carefully constructed over the last 12 years is now threatened by the war in Ukraine.

(Photo: PM Viktor Orban at a press conference March 2022. Credit: Tim Mansel/ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ)

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27 minutes

Last on

Sun 3 Apr 2022 04:32GMT

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  • Tue 29 Mar 2022 01:32GMT
  • Tue 29 Mar 2022 12:32GMT
  • Tue 29 Mar 2022 19:06GMT
  • Sun 3 Apr 2022 04:32GMT