Rubio praises Orban and Hungary ahead of crunch election

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has backed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's leadership during a visit to Budapest. Nationalist leader Orban faces a strong opposition challenge ahead of elections in April.

Rubio endorsed Orban's efforts to secure a fifth consecutive term despite lagging in the polls, praising his rapport with the US leader.

Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar launched his party's election campaign in Budapest on Sunday, promising to restore Hungary's Western orientation amid concerns about democratic backsliding.

A former insider in Orban's nationalist Fidesz party, Magyar broke with former colleagues to quickly form the center-right Tisza party. Independent polls show he holds a significant lead ahead of the vote on April 12.