Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban hoped to woo Hungarian voters ahead of next year's planned elections as the EU-skeptical populist pledged billions in support for families and wage hikes in an address to parliament's opening session on September 20.
In power since 2010, a serious challenge has arisen to Orban and his nationalist Fidesz allies that could chip away at their current large majority in the legislature in the April voting.
A diverse, six-party alliance set up last year accuses Orban of overseeing a reign of rampant corruption and emergent authoritarianism.
In his speech to parliament, Orban vowed to put an additional 600 billion forints ($1.99 billion) in the hands of families early next year and to raise the country's minimum wage.
Orban has sought to spearhead criticism of the European Union, showily broadening channels with Moscow and leading the anti-immigrant populism that has taken increasing hold in some countries since the 2015 migrant crisis in Europe.
EU officials have repeatedly criticized him for perceived attacks on free media and civil society, erosions of democratic institutions, and legislation that Brussels and others say is anti-LGBT.
The anti-Orban alliance suffered a setback last weekend when its first-ever primary elections to identify a solid challenger to Orban ran into technical glitches, prompting opposition groups to extend the process to September 28.
The opposition National Primary Election Commission (OEVB) suggested state officials might have been behind the snag, although they provided no evidence, saying those in power were "scared that masses of people wanted to express their opinion."
Orban said recently that he was "prepared" for outside "interference," including from the United States, in the coming election year.
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
Kremlin Silent About Evidence That Moscow Attack Suspects Were Abused
2Then-And-Now Images Suggest Severe Abuse Of Moscow Terror Suspects
3Exclusive: Who Are The Suspects In The Moscow Concert Attack? Here's What Their Relatives Say.
4Interview: Putin, The Terror Attack, And The Threat Whose Name He 'Dare Not Speak'
5The Russian Military Base In Armenia At The Eye Of A Geopolitical Storm
6Anti-Migrant Sentiment Rises In Russia As 4 Tajiks Charged In Moscow Attack
7Ukraine Says It Destroyed 2 Russian Ships, Comms Center
8An Unlikely Armenian-Azerbaijani Love Story Ends In Russian Terror Attack
9Suspects In Russian Concert Attack Sent To Pretrial Detention
10Russia Rejects U.S. Legal Claim To Arctic Seabed
Subscribe