Yahoo TV

STORY: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared victory in Sunday's parliamentary election, where his ruling Fidesz party was on track for its fourth successive landslide victory since the nationalist leader came to power in 2010.

Voters endorsed his vision of a conservative, "illiberal" state and shrugged off concerns over Budapest's close ties with Moscow.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine had appeared to upend Orban's campaign in recent weeks, forcing him into awkward maneuvering to explain decades-old business relations with Russia

But he mounted a successful campaign to persuade voters that the six-party opposition alliance of Peter Marki-Zay promising to mend ties with the European Union could drag the country into war.

Marki-Zay admitted defeat later on Sunday.

Orban's comfortable victory could embolden the 58-year-old, who critics say has sought to cement one-party rule by overhauling the constitution, taking control of a majority of media outlets and staffing key government posts with loyalists.

Still, he wins favor with many older, poorer voters who espouse his traditional Christian values.

Orban has also emerged as a vocal supporter of anti-immigration policies and is an opponent of tough energy sanctions against Russia.