Hungary's 2018 election will decide whether it is ruled by a government fighting for the national interest or by one led by foreign powers, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said yesterday.

His comments come as Budapest accused the European Commission of “going beyond its competencies” in a row over the fate of a leading international university in Hungary’s capital founded by billionaire financier and liberal philanthropist George Soros.

Brussels threatened Hungary with legal action this week over legislation that could result in the closure of the Central European University (CEU).

Mr Orbán, whose Right-wing government has been in power since 2010, has in recent weeks faced some of the biggest demonstrations seen in Hungary since the end of communism.