Hungary is a multiply defeated nation, whose ability to control its own fate has ended 6 centuries ago and ever since it has been forced to tie its cart to various larger powers. It became even more acute in 1920, or thereabouts, when the Western powers broke it into multiple pieces and “gave” 2/3 of its territory to other countries, as if it had been theirs to give. Its was Hitler who promised to give those territories back, not Churchill so Hungary went with Hitler in WW2. The end result was Soviet occupation for 50 years. It was at the end of that occupation when Orban entered politics.
Obviously Hungary remains in no position to control its own fate, and, after 100 years of losing the territories, there are no more grandiose plans to get any of them back, except in the heads of a few radicals. So this is my thinking: “Hungary first” (channeling Trump) is the next best ideology he could come up with in order to generate some nationalistic enthusiasm to keep himself in power. Clearly, the Hungarians are buying it.
Its is a balancing at between 2 great regional powers, which Hungary had tried before, unsuccessfully though. We’ll see how it works this time. The wokism prevalent in EU officialdom makes his job a bit easier, though.
Sam Sky
2 years ago
In any case he’s playing on a sticky wicket now, having alienated his Visegrad allies over the war in Ukraine – his balance between Putin and the EU largely a method to somehow keep the spigot of both Euros and Rubles flowing – making any chance his reforms will see any traction increasingly unlikely.
Last edited 1 year ago by Sam Sky
Linda Hutchinson
2 years ago
I have less sympathy for Hungary than for some of the earlier EU members, as it was well aware of what the EU stood for by the time it joined. It seems to me that the direction of travel was clearly sign-posted; it should not have joined if it didn’t want to go to that destination. Perhaps the sight of clouds of Euros temporarily blinded it.
Exactly. I’ve no love for the EU and voted to leave it, however I can understand their frustration with Hungary. They seem to want all the benefits of being part of the bloc such as the billions of Euros in development project, yet completely ignore any of the obligations that come with being part of a group. If Orban was serious in his convictions then he would organise a referendum the same as the UK did, however we all know that won’t be the case. He’s also alienated his traditional allies within the EU such as the Poles with his actions regarding the Ukraine invasion so he needs to tread very carefully
I think you have Hungary about right, but err in thinking other members are any different, except perhaps in the degree of honesty; while some, mainly those on the payroll, sometimes talk as if it is a grand project for the benefit of the EU state, others calculate the benefit, or manoeuvre to increase it.
Our civil servants were less successful in this, although they enjoyed the ride.
Exactly the same could be said of Britain – the EEC / EU was always an overtly political project. At the very least there was a huge degree of dissembling on the issues of reduced democratic scrutiny by the pro EEC establishment at the time of Britain’s entry.
Last edited 1 year ago by Andrew Fisher
Lisa I
1 year ago
I envision some type of underhanded politically orchestrated regime change in Hungary’s future.
Good on him
We might shortly have a vacancy in this country
Hungary is a multiply defeated nation, whose ability to control its own fate has ended 6 centuries ago and ever since it has been forced to tie its cart to various larger powers. It became even more acute in 1920, or thereabouts, when the Western powers broke it into multiple pieces and “gave” 2/3 of its territory to other countries, as if it had been theirs to give. Its was Hitler who promised to give those territories back, not Churchill so Hungary went with Hitler in WW2. The end result was Soviet occupation for 50 years. It was at the end of that occupation when Orban entered politics.
Obviously Hungary remains in no position to control its own fate, and, after 100 years of losing the territories, there are no more grandiose plans to get any of them back, except in the heads of a few radicals. So this is my thinking: “Hungary first” (channeling Trump) is the next best ideology he could come up with in order to generate some nationalistic enthusiasm to keep himself in power. Clearly, the Hungarians are buying it.
Its is a balancing at between 2 great regional powers, which Hungary had tried before, unsuccessfully though. We’ll see how it works this time. The wokism prevalent in EU officialdom makes his job a bit easier, though.
In any case he’s playing on a sticky wicket now, having alienated his Visegrad allies over the war in Ukraine – his balance between Putin and the EU largely a method to somehow keep the spigot of both Euros and Rubles flowing – making any chance his reforms will see any traction increasingly unlikely.
I have less sympathy for Hungary than for some of the earlier EU members, as it was well aware of what the EU stood for by the time it joined. It seems to me that the direction of travel was clearly sign-posted; it should not have joined if it didn’t want to go to that destination. Perhaps the sight of clouds of Euros temporarily blinded it.
Exactly. I’ve no love for the EU and voted to leave it, however I can understand their frustration with Hungary. They seem to want all the benefits of being part of the bloc such as the billions of Euros in development project, yet completely ignore any of the obligations that come with being part of a group. If Orban was serious in his convictions then he would organise a referendum the same as the UK did, however we all know that won’t be the case. He’s also alienated his traditional allies within the EU such as the Poles with his actions regarding the Ukraine invasion so he needs to tread very carefully
I think you have Hungary about right, but err in thinking other members are any different, except perhaps in the degree of honesty; while some, mainly those on the payroll, sometimes talk as if it is a grand project for the benefit of the EU state, others calculate the benefit, or manoeuvre to increase it.
Our civil servants were less successful in this, although they enjoyed the ride.
Exactly the same could be said of Britain – the EEC / EU was always an overtly political project. At the very least there was a huge degree of dissembling on the issues of reduced democratic scrutiny by the pro EEC establishment at the time of Britain’s entry.
I envision some type of underhanded politically orchestrated regime change in Hungary’s future.