(CNN) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is warning that a backlash against immigration in the European Parliament's elections next year will likely bring a shift toward illiberal "Christian democracy."

Orban, who won a third consecutive term in power this year, has locked horns with EU leaders in recent years over his country's hardline immigration policies and for clamping down on democratic institutions -- including civic organizations, the media and academic institutions -- as he consolidated his power.

He has also openly criticized the EU's sanctions against Russia over Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and has met regularly with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Orban has long touted his vision of a right-wing conservative "illiberal democracy" to Hungarians as an alternative to the political models seen in western Europe.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at a joint press conference on July 5, 2018 in Berlin.

In his annual speech to ethnic Hungarians in Baile Tusnad in Romania on Saturday, he criticized EU leaders for failing to stop mass immigration, particularly of Muslims, according to Reuters.

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