Hungary election: Is this the end for Europe’s most powerful autocrat?

After 16 years in power, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is facing the fight of his political life on April 12th. But how far will Europe’s most powerful nationalist leader go to avoid losing?

Opinion polls show a massive youth rebellion led by former insider Péter Magyar and his Tisza party, threatening to tear down Orbán’s "illiberal democracy". But analysts warn this won't be a fair fight.

In this explainer, presented by ITV News reporter Lorna Shaddick, we break down how Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party has built an electoral system designed to guarantee victory through gerrymandering, controversial "voter tourism," and alleged intimidation.

As his grip on power slips, experts say the government's tactics are getting darker. We expose the unprecedented use of AI-generated deepfakes designed to terrify voters, open coordination with the Kremlin, and a mysterious bomb plot near a Serbian gas pipeline that opposition figures fear could be a Russian-backed "false flag" to derail the election.

Will Orbán's fortress hold, or is Hungary about to make history?

• Subscribe to ITV News on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2lOHmNj
• Get breaking news and more stories at http://www.itv.com/news

Follow ITV News on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@itvnews?lang=en
Follow ITV News on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itvnews/
Follow ITV News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itvnews/
Follow ITV News on X: https://twitter.com/itvnews