Two of Europe’s most dominant leaders are bidding to keep their grip on power in elections that have put a spotlight on their close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin after his invasion of Ukraine.
Most polls suggest Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is on track to win a fourth straight term on Sunday, but the race is unusually tight after the opposition formed a six-party alliance and a survey published a day before the vote showed the two camps were neck and neck. Next door in Serbia, President Aleksandar Vucic is expected to have an easier path to victory, though is unlikely to repeat a landslide of two years ago.
The war in Ukraine has overshadowed the votes and both leaders have depicted themselves as the defenders of the nation. Opponents have sought to frame the elections as a choice between fostering integration with Western Europe or risking political and economic isolation.
