3 ms·

As a citizen, it's been increasingly embarrassing to be associated with what the Hungarian govt has been doing for a while now. Since the war started doubly so.

As a citizen, it's been increasingly embarrassing to be associated with what the Hungarian govt has been doing for a while now. Since the war started doubly so. Now we know why. For non-hungarians: the revolution against the russians in 1956 is probably the most important historic event with remembrances held every year. A persistent gripe is that the international community (western nations in particular) didn't assist the freedom fighters. Orbán's government has been banging this drum very loudly every year during the last decade. Guess which head of state neglected to assist a neighbour in a surprisingly similar situation...

thriftwy 5y ago
> the revolution against the russians in 1956 is probably the most important historic event I thought it would be the Trianon treaty. How much land did you gain or lose in 1956?
- peter_neumark 5y ago
  Good point, the Trianon treaty and associated loss of territory is an important national trauma (we've got a respectable collection :) ). It's a favorite of populist politicians, but it doesn't deserve a bank holiday like the 1956 revolution. 1956 recently got a full "memorial year" https://www.magyarforradalom1956.hu/ https://www.magyarforradalom1956.hu/ choke-full of thinly veiled campaigning financed with public money.
kharak 5y ago
Do you think your country will vote for another party going forward? Changing course to a more Europe friendly future?
- peter_neumark 5y ago
  There is a decent opposition movement, but Orbán's clan gradually devoured all media. At this point every single TV station, radio and newspaper with any public funding at all is a channel for propaganda. The incumbent's facebook / google advertising is ~ 3x that of all other parties combined. Elections are on Sunday, so we'll see. I have my fingers crossed, but if I'm being honest, the descent into a Putineque regime seems unavoidable at this point.
  - sz4kerto 5y ago
    > the descent into a Putineque regime seems unavoidable at this point. I have hopes that this is not possible because of geographical/geopolitical reasons.
- haunter 5y ago
  No The only question if Orban will have a majority or super-majority Also the opposition is a mix match of far right-centrist-liberal parties. Not one single party, basically they came together under the umbrella of "anything but Orban" but they have very different views
ed_balls 5y ago
Looking from the distance with very little information I can't comprehend the decisions that Hungary has made. Russian are a single point of failure. If there is a collapse or civil war in Russia, Hungary's energy sector is doomed (multiple Russian nuclear reactor, gas, oil, coal). Even now, there is a risk of blockade, carbon tax from Russia. It does look like a corruption?
- abiro 5y ago
  It is corruption. The entire Hungarian state has been captured by Orban's mafia. ("Mafia" is not an exaggeration. Hungarian state capture works exactly like the Russian with natural resources replaced by EU money.)
  - heavenlyblue 5y ago
    This is a way better situation that natural resources because EU can always stop giving that money once it is unhappy with what Hungary does, but it would not be able to take away natural resources.
    - abiro 5y ago
      They started the incredibly expensive and wasteful Paks II nuclear plant extension program financed by Russian loans to diversify the EU faucet. (Although that deals seems to be collapsing now with the war).
      - eptcyka 5y ago
        Part of Russia's MO in it's former soviet sattelites is to give them cheap loans to increase their influence in those territories.
        hdjjhhvvhga 5y ago
        And now we discovered they used similar tactics for the whole Europe: we sell you cheap gas so that you develop total dependence on us and disregard supply chain diversification as it makes no economic sense... until it's too late.

thriftwy 5y ago

> the revolution against the russians in 1956 is probably the most important historic event I thought it would be the Trianon treaty. How much land did you gain or lose in 1956?

peter_neumark 5y ago
Good point, the Trianon treaty and associated loss of territory is an important national trauma (we've got a respectable collection :) ). It's a favorite of populist politicians, but it doesn't deserve a bank holiday like the 1956 revolution. 1956 recently got a full "memorial year" https://www.magyarforradalom1956.hu/ https://www.magyarforradalom1956.hu/ choke-full of thinly veiled campaigning financed with public money.

kharak 5y ago

Do you think your country will vote for another party going forward? Changing course to a more Europe friendly future?

peter_neumark 5y ago
There is a decent opposition movement, but Orbán's clan gradually devoured all media. At this point every single TV station, radio and newspaper with any public funding at all is a channel for propaganda. The incumbent's facebook / google advertising is ~ 3x that of all other parties combined. Elections are on Sunday, so we'll see. I have my fingers crossed, but if I'm being honest, the descent into a Putineque regime seems unavoidable at this point.
- sz4kerto 5y ago
  > the descent into a Putineque regime seems unavoidable at this point. I have hopes that this is not possible because of geographical/geopolitical reasons.
haunter 5y ago
No The only question if Orban will have a majority or super-majority Also the opposition is a mix match of far right-centrist-liberal parties. Not one single party, basically they came together under the umbrella of "anything but Orban" but they have very different views

ed_balls 5y ago

Looking from the distance with very little information I can't comprehend the decisions that Hungary has made. Russian are a single point of failure. If there is a collapse or civil war in Russia, Hungary's energy sector is doomed (multiple Russian nuclear reactor, gas, oil, coal). Even now, there is a risk of blockade, carbon tax from Russia. It does look like a corruption?

abiro 5y ago
It is corruption. The entire Hungarian state has been captured by Orban's mafia. ("Mafia" is not an exaggeration. Hungarian state capture works exactly like the Russian with natural resources replaced by EU money.)
- heavenlyblue 5y ago
  This is a way better situation that natural resources because EU can always stop giving that money once it is unhappy with what Hungary does, but it would not be able to take away natural resources.
  - abiro 5y ago
    They started the incredibly expensive and wasteful Paks II nuclear plant extension program financed by Russian loans to diversify the EU faucet. (Although that deals seems to be collapsing now with the war).
    - eptcyka 5y ago
      Part of Russia's MO in it's former soviet sattelites is to give them cheap loans to increase their influence in those territories.
      - hdjjhhvvhga 5y ago
        And now we discovered they used similar tactics for the whole Europe: we sell you cheap gas so that you develop total dependence on us and disregard supply chain diversification as it makes no economic sense... until it's too late.