CEGL脡D, Hungary (AP) 鈥� Istv谩n V谩roczi, a 63-year-old entrepreneur from the small Hungarian city of Cegl茅d, says he doesn’t believe the polls that show Prime Minister could lose a pivotal election on Sunday.
After 16 years in power and four straight election victories, Orb谩n is facing an 鈥� P茅ter Magyar of the Tisza party 鈥� who has sought to whittle away at Orb谩n’s rural support base with months of relentless touring in the countryside.
While most polls show that many Hungarians have abandoned Orb谩n and his Fidesz party and , the long-serving prime minister remains deeply popular among large parts of Hungarian society 鈥� particularly among older voters and those in the smallest settlements.
鈥淚鈥檝e been watching him for nearly 40 years, I have always voted for him and I will again, I鈥檝e never been disappointed in him,鈥� said V谩roczi, who sells handbags and other goods from a stall in the center of Cegl茅d. 鈥淗is biggest strength is that he didn鈥檛 forget where he came from. He always remained a normal person. I鈥檓 sure he has flaws, but who doesn鈥檛?鈥�
He added that Orb谩n’s populist-nationalist Fidesz party is 鈥渢he only party I trust,” and that he considers the long-serving leader’s performance 鈥渦nparalleled.鈥�
Magyar and his Tisza party have found growing support among Hungarians after four years of , due partly to the of billions in European Union funding for Hungary over rule-of-law and corruption concerns under Orb谩n.
But in a survey released Wednesday by pollster Medi谩n, 47% of Hungarians over 65 years old support Fidesz compared to 29% for Tisza. The smaller the community, the poll shows, the more voters back Orb谩n.
In Albertirsa, a town of around 14,000 in central Hungary, retired pipe fitter J谩nos Falajt谩r became emotional when describing what he believes Orb谩n has done to serve his country. Struggling to speak through tears, he said that Orb谩n had 鈥渁cted for the people.鈥�
鈥淭he decisions don鈥檛 matter. Common sense and heart matter,鈥� he said.
Orb谩n has given pre-election benefits and introduced programs designed to appeal to his supporters, such as a popular utility bill reduction program buttressed by Hungary’s continued . Retirees also receive a 鈥�13th month鈥� pension supplement at the end of each year, with a 14th currently being introduced.
The prime minister has also pioneered a program to renovate small-town pubs and churches, and has abolished income tax for young mothers who have multiple children.
But perhaps more than any of his policies, Orb谩n’s political charisma, emphasis on maintaining Hungary鈥檚 traditions and dedication to bolstering national pride resonates most strongly with his base.
Falajt谩r, the retired pipe fitter, said he felt Orb谩n had united the nation, including in regions of neighboring countries where many ethnic Hungarians reside after around 72% of the country’s territory was annexed after World War I.
鈥淲e are now beginning to unite the Greater Hungary in Vojvodina, Slovakia, Transcarpathia, Transylvania, and even in Austria,鈥� Falajt谩r said. “They only took a small piece from us, but it’s still ours.”
Orb谩n has campaigned heavily on a he says will threaten Hungarians if he doesn’t receive another term, especially the war in neighboring Ukraine, which he says threatens to bankrupt Hungary and even drag it directly into the fighting.
Despite the sluggish economy, many of Orb谩n’s supporters believe that external factors 鈥� not government mismanagement 鈥� are at fault.
The government 鈥渋s doing what it can for us, for the people,鈥� said V谩roczi, the bag seller.
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