Three years past retirement age, Imre still works every day. Soaring inflation in Hungary has made a pittance of his 120,000 forint-a-month ($370) pension.

But on April 12, the former bookseller will vote to reelect Viktor Orban anyway. He fears the opposition will send his son to the front in Ukraine.

¡°And because the Ukrainians hate Hungarians, they¡¯ll send him to the most dangerous part. He won¡¯t stand a chance,¡± Imre, 68, said behind the wheel of the Budapest taxi he drives to top up his income.