DEBRECEN, Hungary (AP) \u2014 The leaders of Hungary\u2019s two biggest parties held their final election rallies on Saturday to close a turbulent campaign that will reach its apex in Sunday\u2019s election. <\/p>\n
Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n<\/a> is facing the biggest political test of his career as his challenger P\u00e9ter Magyar<\/a> \u2018s center-right Tisza party has charted a meteoric rise and is leading by double digits in most independent polls. <\/p>\n If Tisza wins, it will bring Orb\u00e1n\u2019s 16-year grip on power to a dramatic end. <\/p>\n Yet many observers expect the result to be closer than polls are predicting, and that Orb\u00e1n\u2019s Fidesz party can successfully mobilize its significant base of support in the countryside<\/a>. <\/p>\n Magyar, a 45-year-old lawyer and former member of Fidesz\u2019s political elite, has toured Hungary relentlessly for two years, visiting hundreds of cities, towns and villages in an effort to win over some of Orb\u00e1n\u2019s rural support<\/a>. <\/p>\n He appeared before thousands of supporters on Saturday on University Square in Debrecen, Hungary\u2019s second-largest city and traditionally a Fidesz stronghold<\/a>. <\/p>\n Magyar struck a confident tone, saying the election would \u201center Hungarian history books as the day of resurrection, the renewal of the Hungarian nation, and of the real change of regime.\u201d<\/p>\n He also gestured toward supporters of Orb\u00e1n, saying his camp would begin the \u201creunification\u201d of Hungary after election day, something he called a \u201cnational reconciliation.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cAs the winner of the election, we will have to extend a hand to our fellow countrymen,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n Orb\u00e1n, who ended his campaign on Budapest\u2019s opulent Castle Hill, has campaigned primarily by sounding the alarm on myriad external dangers<\/a> he says are threatening Hungarians \u2014 particularly the war in neighboring Ukraine.<\/p>\n Orb\u00e1n doubled down on that message, telling thousands of supporters that \u201cwe are in an age of danger.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHungary is facing serious challenges,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need to say no to major power groups in the world in order to defend ourselves, and this requires knowledge, experience and routine.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cNow is not the time to take risks, to change, to renew and to adventure. Now we need to protect and secure what we have.\u201d <\/p>\n Orb\u00e1n\u2019s campaign has been plagued by Hungary\u2019s poor economic performance<\/a>, revelations of the government\u2019s increasingly close connections to Russia<\/a> and corruption allegations.<\/p>\n He has sought to boost his appeal with voters by emphasizing his close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump<\/a>, who has repeatedly endorsed the Hungarian leader. Vice President JD Vance made a two-day visit to Budapest earlier this week to push for Orb\u00e1n\u2019s reelection<\/a>, even appearing at a taxpayer-funded campaign rally alongside the prime minister.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Magyar has focused his campaign on issues that affect ordinary Hungarians like inflation, costs of living and the deteriorating state of public health care and transportation. <\/p>\n