> "Get with the program, or else" is the message here. You seem to imply this is either unexpected or unfortunate? What is it you refer to as "the program"? T

> "Get with the program, or else" is the message here. You seem to imply this is either unexpected or unfortunate? What is it you refer to as "the program"? There is a big difference between on the one hand Hungrary and Slovakia, and Serbia on the other. Hungary and Slovakia are EU members. The EU isn't some sort of trade union, it's a political union of liberal democracies. Independent judiciaries, free press and so on are "the program". Serbia can go with "the program" when and if they want (they have been candidates for a long time). Of course they aren't to be free of criticism if they lean towards authoritarianism, but unlike EU countries there isn't much more to do about it than complain about it. And of course it's the job of liberal democracies, and all media and organizations in liberal democracies to do just that: complain. Yet you seem surprised.