The most important election in Europe for a long time is taking place in Hungary on Sunday, April 12.

After 16 years in power, Europe’s longest-serving leader Viktor Orbán is seeking re-election in a de facto vote on the future direction of Hungary: toward European-style liberal democracy or closer ties with Russia.

Orbán is the most pro-Russian leader in the EU, and his defeat would be a significant blow to Putin, Trump and the international populist movement.

Opposition leader Péter Magyar has built his campaign on promises to restore Hungary’s Western orientation towards the EU and Nato.

Going into the final week of the election, most opinion polls put Magyar and his opposition Tisza party ahead of Orbán’s Fidesz party.

But JD Vance’s trip to Budapest this week, offering Orbán’s campaign a last-minute boost from the Trump administration, might be enough to turn the tide in favour of Fidesz.