France, April 12 -- Opinion polls suggest the Tisza party of pro-European conservative Peter Magyar - who has promised a "system change" - is running well ahead of Orban's Fidesz.

Orban, 62, who is seeking a fifth straight term, has transformed his country into a model of "illiberal democracy", publicly clashing with Brussels over rule of law issues, as well as over support for war-torn Ukraine.

Former government insider Magyar, 45, burst onto the scene just two years ago, amassing support against a backdrop of economic stagnation, despite an electoral system skewed in favour of Orban's Fidesz party.

In one polling station in Budapest, none of the voters questioned by RFI said directly that he or she was voting for Orban. But nobo...