LONDON - Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has long been accustomed to exercising an oversized influence in Europe; he runs a small country of barely 10 million yet his peculiar brand of politics, mixing a fierce opposition to immigration and an open hostility to Islam with staunch nationalism, has been so successful that it remains an inspiration to far-right populists throughout the European continent.

And Mr Orban continues to have voters on his side. As Hungary goes to the polls on Sunday (April 8), he is likely to be re-elected with a thumping majority, for the third time in a row. He not only dominates his nation, but also much of the continent's nationalist debate.