Rightwing leaders endorse Viktor Orban in Hungarian election campaign video

"Rightwing leaders from around the world have come together to endorse Hungary's Viktor Orban, hinting at the symbolism that the country's elections hold for global far-right movements even as the populist leader lags in the polls. A campaign video published online by Orban this week includes endorsements from nearly a dozen leaders including Italy's Giorgia Meloni and Matteo Salvini, France's Marine Le Pen and Germany's Alice Weidel. Europe needs Viktor Orban, Weidel, a co-leader of the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD), tells viewers."

"Le Pen, the former leader of France's far-right National Rally party, piles praise on the leader who once described Hungary as a petri dish for illiberalism. Thanks to leaders like Viktor Orban, the camp of patriots and defenders of nations and sovereign peoples is achieving ever greater success in Europe, she says. Meloni, in turn, seeks to highlight the similarities she shares with Orban: Together we stand for a Europe that respects national sovereignty [and] is proud of its cultural and religious roots."

"The show of support before the Hungarian elections on 12 April follows a year in which Orban, the European Union's longest-serving leader, made headlines over his government's attempt to ban Pride events and clamp down further on independent media and NGOs. Fidesz has sought to stress Viktor Orban's international connections, casting them as an asset for Hungary. Orban, who has long faced criticism for weakening democratic institutions, eroding media freedom and undermining the rule of law,"

Rightwing leaders from several countries publicly endorsed Viktor Orban in a campaign video featuring figures such as Giorgia Meloni, Matteo Salvini, Marine Le Pen and Alice Weidel. Weidel declared Europe needs Viktor Orban and Le Pen praised him for advancing a camp of patriots and defenders of nations. Meloni emphasized shared commitment to national sovereignty and cultural and religious roots. The endorsements preceded Hungary's 12 April election after a year marked by government moves to ban Pride events and tighten control over independent media and NGOs. Orban faces criticism for weakening democratic institutions and now confronts a challenge from former party member Peter Magyar amid economic strain and lagging poll numbers.

Read at www.theguardian.com