Viktor Orbán declares "a better orator than Nicolae Ceaușescu" and rejects comparisons, amid tensions in the electoral campaign.

Viktor Orban, the autocratic leader of Hungary, was asked on Sunday about the increasingly frequent comparisons between him and Nicolae Ceaușescu, the former communist dictator, following the boos he received at a campaign event. Orban stated: "I am a much better orator than Ceaușescu," adding that those who compare him to the Romanian dictator are "worthy of pity."

These comments come in a delicate electoral context for Orban, who is facing a formidable opponent, Peter Magyar, the leader of the opposition Tisza party, which has gained ground in polls. Although Orban has established an autocratic regime over the last decade, controlling most state institutions and the economy, the public has begun to oppose him more vocally. At a recent rally, a large group of opponents booed him, and Orban accused them of being in the service of Ukraine. This situation reflects a change in public perception of his leadership, amid increasing support for the opposition.