Hungary

[MajorRewrite]

Orbán in Hungary is the model for many of Donnie’s actions, despite the fact that Hungary's economy is failing and the infrastructure is crumbling. They have an election coming up soon, which polls say Orban will lose. What will Orban do to cling to power?

 

[DeluxAuto]

Vance going to Hungary to endorse a dictator is on brand. Hopefully, another world leader slaps JD.

 

[Chernosoth]

Europe's economy is failing. There's not much Hungary can do as a small landlocked nation buried deep in Europe, but Orban is making an attempt of playing his cards.

 

[DeluxAuto]

Europe's economy is failing

Since 1985

 

[Wilson23]

Anybody know any Hungarian jokes?

 

[MajorRewrite]

Libertarians explain the wretchedness of Crooked Donnie’s Hungarian idol …

How Viktor Orbán’s Hungary Eroded the Rule of Law and Free Markets

Many on the right see Viktor Orbán’s Hungary as a model. In fact, it is a cautionary tale of unrestrained executive power and crony capitalism.

However, Orbán’s main grievance with the EU is that Brussels stands in the way of his ability to enforce his personal preferences on the Hungarian population, funnel rewards to cronies, and dismantle media freedom and judicial independence.

 

[Iluv17]

Wow!

 

[MajorRewrite]

Russia and the US support authoritarian Orban in Hungary … what a surprise.

Why US and Russia are backing Viktor Orbán in Hungary election

“On one level, the US and Russia are sort of playing their old rivalry games, but on another level, they seem to be aligning ideologically in terms of their commitment to, let’s say, a white nationalist Christian civilisational ethic.”

Donald Trump has repeatedly endorsed Orbán, describing him as a “fantastic guy” and a “strong and powerful leader”.

The veneration has continued, even as Hungary plunged in press freedomrankings, faced accusations of no longer being a full democracy and, according to Transparency International, became the most corrupt country in the EU.

Restricted media freedom, manipulated elections and rampant corruption are all things that Crooked Donnie fully supports.

Hungary, long seen by many as pro-Russian and a “bit of a Russian mole” within the EU and Nato, had not changed, nor had Russia, said Shapiro. “It’s the US that has changed here,” Shapiro said

“For the Russians, having Orbán as the fifth column in the EU – as someone who can derail or block or slow down European decision-making or as a conduit for intelligence operations – is quite useful. He has rendered many services to the Russians over the years,” he said.

 

[MajorRewrite]

Just Dumb Vance is in Hungary to support the re-election of authoritarian Putin-lover Orban. All of the authoritarian Putin-lovers stick together.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Hungary on Tuesday in a bid to turn the tide of an election campaign where long-serving Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of President Donald Trump, is trailing in the polls.

Vance’s two-day trip, where he is scheduled to hold an official visit with Orbán and later appear at one of his campaign rallies, offered the clearest sign yet that the Trump administration is going all-in for an Orbán victory when Hungarians go to the polls on Sunday.

 

[Cat]

Just Dumb Vance is in Hungary to support the re-election of authoritarian Putin-lover Orban. All of the authoritarian Putin-lovers stick together.

I am especially fond of Vance's speeches, admonishing the EU.
Accusing us of interfering in the election.

Uh-huh.. says the American VP, while in Hungary proudly declaring that he is there to help Orban as much as possible.

....

Yeah, fiction got nothing on reality these days.

America, can you please call your VP back? I think your president has lost his last marbles.

 

[Wilson23]

There is a strong tradition of Hungarian nationalism, dating back to the Austrian Empire.

But in those days it had nothing to do with immigration.

 

[SimonDoom]

I'm rooting for Orban's opponent. It's obviously inappropriate for the Trump administration to appear to support Orban, or any candidate in Hungary for that matter. It also seems like an unforced political error. I can't see how it benefits Trump at home to support somebody like Orban.

 

[Wilson23]

I'm rooting for Orban's opponent. It's obviously inappropriate for the Trump administration to appear to support Orban, or any candidate in Hungary for that matter. It also seems like an unforced political error. I can't see how it benefits Trump at home to support somebody like Orban.

It has NEVER been a norm of international relations that one country should not take sides in another's elections.

 

[SimonDoom]

It has NEVER been a norm of international relations that one country should not take sides in another's elections.

That's not historically true. Historically, as a matter of practice and custom, if not announced policy, US presidents have taken rather hands-off approaches to elections in other countries, especially the elections in democratic countries. The reasons for that are sound and obvious. Number 1, it's not appropriate for us to interfere in other countries' democratic elections, number 2, as a practical matter we need to get along with the governments of other countries regardless of their party, and number 3, there's a great chance that any interference will be perceived badly and backfire on us.

Trump's support of right-wing authoritarian leaders, and his interference in the Hungary election, is weird and ahistorical. We supported right-wing leaders when it seemed convenient during the Cold War era, when the alternative was communism, but we've generally been hands-off on elections in Europe. Trump's support of Orban makes no sense at all as a matter of custom, principle, or pure pragmatic politics. Vance just called Orban a "model" for Europe, and that's nuts. I can't think of a precedent for a US presidential administration acting this way.

 

[Wilson23]

That's not historically true. Historically, as a matter of practice and custom, if not announced policy, US presidents have taken rather hands-off approaches to elections in other countries, especially the elections in democratic countries.

But interference would not violate any established international norms.

 

[SimonDoom]

But interference would not violate any established international norms.

You're right about that. I agree. There seems to be an absence of any real "norms" about how one is supposed to behave. My remarks concern mostly how the US has traditionally dealt with its allies and other democratic countries. One can obviously find countless examples of the US interfering with the governments of other countries in other contexts. And everybody else has interfered, too.

I still think it's very weird what the Trump administration is doing with respect to Hungary, and it's a strong indicator that he just doesn't care about democracy. He likes strong men, like Orban and Putin.

 

[MajorRewrite]

There is a strong tradition of Hungarian nationalism, dating back to the Austrian Empire.

But in those days it had nothing to do with immigration.

Orban isn’t a true nationalist because he’s openly subservient to Putin.

 

[SimonDoom]

Orban isn’t a true nationalist because he’s openly subservient to Putin.

I would say he is a nationalist in the sense that "nationalism" as an m.o., governs his motives and tactics, but that ultimately he is not a nationalist because what he supports is not good for the nation. It's a narrow, short-term concept of nationalism, that ignores the long-term good of the nation.

But I'd say the same thing about Trump.

 

[Cat]

I would say he is a nationalist in the sense that "nationalism" as an m.o., governs his motives and tactics, but that ultimately he is not a nationalist because what he supports is not good for the nation. It's a narrow, short-term concept of nationalism, that ignores the long-term good of the nation.

But I'd say the same thing about Trump.

..... Or you could just call Orban and Trump corrupt opportunists?

 

[SimonDoom]

..... Or you could just call Orban and Trump corrupt opportunists?

That shoe fits.

 

[RobDownSouth]

The most critical day of the war and VP Vance is politicking for Orban in Hungary.

I'm so old I remember when politicians never went to another country to urge people how to vote...

That ended with Netanyahu praising Trump before the US Congress.

 

[Wilson23]

Orban isn’t a true nationalist because he’s openly subservient to Putin.

That means nothing. CASTRO was sure as Hell a nationalist, despite his subservience to the USSR, and despite the internationalist principles of Communist ideology.

 

[ll74]

The most critical day of the war and VP Vance is politicking for Orban in Hungary.

I'm so old I remember when politicians never went to another country to urge people how to vote...

That ended with Netanyahu praising Trump before the US Congress.

It's great to know that I'm paying to campaign for Orban

 

[RobDownSouth]

It's great to know that I'm paying to campaign for Orban

He likes doing that, He actually gets applause. You might remember when he was in Germany last year he campaigned for an extremely far right party that wanted "maximum free speech for Germany" which is code for "we want to wear the swastika again".

 

[BVVRG]

Anybody know any Hungarian jokes?

Vladimir Putin lands at Budapest airport and proceeds to passport control. "Name?" asks the border guard. "Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin," answers the Russian president. "Occupation?" asks the border guard. "No, just visiting," answers Mr Putin.

.