Viktor Orban’s fragmented opposition in frantic last-minute dash to halt his victory

At first glance, there is nothing special about the energy-efficient streetlights of Hódmezővásárhely, a small town of 45,000 in southern Hungary with a convoluted name that loosely translates as ‘the marketplace on the beaver’s field’.

But as Hungary goes to the polls on Sunday, it is a political earthquake that shook this town last month that offers a few crumbs of hope to the country’s fragmented opposition as they try to stop Viktor Orban, the country’s increasingly autocratic prime minister, from winning a third consecutive term.

Mr Orban’s ruling Fidesz party is riding high in the official polls, with some 40 per cent of the vote, but a shock election defeat for the Fidesz candidate in…

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