From liberal hero to right-wing icon, Orban's appeal trumps rivals

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban addresses the supporters after the announcement of the partial results of parliamentary election in Budapest, Hungary, April 8, 2018.REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - An anti-Communist hero to many, Hungary's longest-serving prime minister Viktor Orban has veered far from his formative liberal views to become a staunch opponent of immigration, admired by the far right across Europe.

The 54-year-old Hungarian premier, who secured a third straight term in office in elections on Sunday, has set out to transform Hungary into an "illiberal democracy" with sweeping reforms in the past years that have earned him accusations of authoritarianism and conflicts with the European Union.