By Jan Repa BBC Central and Eastern European analyst

Hungarians vote on Saturday in a binding referendum on whether to join the European Union.

Ten countries are scheduled to join the EU next year. Last month, Malta and Slovenia held their referendums - with landslide victories for the Yes camp.

Hungary is a Central European success story and support for EU membership is strong.

As early as the 1960s, the Hungarians began to break away from the Soviet system of centralised economic planning.

Since the peaceful breakup of Communist rule in 1989, Hungary has comprehensively reformed its economy, virtually completing privatisation and attracting high levels of foreign investment.

Investors like its relatively cheap labour force, the technical competence of its managers, its geographical location and its relative political stability.

Endorsements

The centre-left coalition goverment of Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy has campaigned hard for a Yes vote.

LANDMARKS IN HUNGARIAN HISTORY 1920 - Hungary loses two-thirds of territory after break-up of Austro-Hungarian Empire World War II - allied with Nazi Germany 1944 - Soviet occupation, leading to Communist regime 1956 - anti-Communist uprising crushed by the Soviet army 1989 - border with Austria opened, precipitating the fall of the Berlin Wall 1990 - democratic elections and the installation of a centre-right government dedicated to joining the EU and Nato

The Catholic Church, which claims to represent some 55% of the population, has also endorsed EU membership.

Even the conservative opposition leader, Viktor Orban, who has raised the spectre of high prices, a loss of national values and threats to the livelihood of farms, small entrepreneurs and pensioners, has given a qualified Yes to membership.

Still opposed are the far-right Justice and Life party - for whom the EU is part of an international, capitalist, Jewish plot to destroy the Hungarian nation - and the diehard "true" Communists. Neither enjoy much electoral support at present.

Two halves

The main worry for the government is the prospect of a low turnout on Saturday.

In order to be valid, at least 25% of the electorate has to vote one way or the other.

While the more prosperous western half of Hungary is strongly pro-EU, the poorer eastern half is likely to see a higher abstention rate - and a higher percentage of people voting No.

The first results are expected late on Saturday evening.

A week from now, on 16 April, the 10 candidate countries are scheduled to sign the EU accession treaty in Athens.

Six of them will still need to hold their own accession referenda:

• Lithuania and Slovakia in May

• Poland and the Czech Republic in June

• Estonia and Latvia in September.

The treaty also needs to be ratified by each of the existing EU members.