By deepening economic relations with both #China and #Russia, #Orbán hopes to give #Hungary an oversized say in global decision-making. And his “friendship” with #Putin is feeding the ever-growing clientelism within his government and funding his cronies.
For example, while other European countries have been downgrading the size of their staff at Russian embassies and consulates, staff numbers at the Russian Embassy in Budapest are on the rise.
While most Western countries are concerned with extrajudicial security personnel from #China going after Chinese dissidents and other interference via secret police stations, Hungary just went and signed a deal with China: "lol, police from a totalitarian country officially patrolling our streets? sure thing"
Mam wrażenie, że mimo wszystkich umizgów, Chińczycy wiedzą, że węgierska przyjaźń jest na sprzedaż i jest coś warta, tylko tak długo, jak płacą. Jest takie stare powiedzenie, że „Afgańczyka możesz wynająć, ale nie możesz kupić.” Podobnie jest z Orbanem.
Gipfeltreffen in Budapest: Xi und Orban vereinbaren "strategische Partnerschaft"
Zum Abschluss seines Europa-Besuchs hat Chinas Präsident Xi in Ungarn eine "goldene Reise" mit gemeinsamen Wirtschafts- und Infrastrukturprojekten angekündigt. Beide Länder vermeldeten den Abschluss zahlreicher Abkommen.
🇨🇳➡️🇪🇺 "For the first time in 5 years, the leader of China will come to Europe. Xi Jinping makes rare visit to France, Serbia and Hungary", - The Economist
🇫🇷 In Paris, Macron will "press" him on Ukraine and the trade imbalance, — Reuters.
🕊️ He also plans to discuss the "Olympic truce", - La Tribune
11KM-Podcast: Der Mann, der Orban gefährlich werden könnte
Rücktritt, Social-Media-Interview, geheime Tonaufnahmen - das sind die Zutaten für den rasanten Aufstieg des Politikers Peter Magyar in Ungarn. 11KM erzählt vom Herausforderer des Ministerpräsidenten Viktor Orban.
'This year's European and local elections may be the toughest in #Orban 's 14-year rule with Hungary's economy in recession, the abuse scandal striking his family-values platform at its core, and a political newcomer threatening to upend the status quo. Even so, Orban's #Fidesz remains the most popular party in Hungary.'
Hungarian authorities said on Friday they had launched an investigation into opposition figure Peter #Magyar on suspicions over foreign funding for his campaigns, which have been highly critical of Viktor #Orban's government.
Magyar launched his movement by publicly accusing the government of widespread corruption and running a centralized propaganda machine. Orban aides have rejected his accusations.
The amendment that #MarjorieTraitorGreene just proposed to sabotage the #Ukraine bill is something that is such a nuanced #RussianDisinformation narrative that it could have only come directly from her Russian handlers.
The notion that #Hungarians are being persecuted in Ukraine is insane BUT it’s being pushed by both #Orban (who was promised a piece of Ukraine by #Putin) and Russian disinfo machine. For an American to suggest this really confirms she is being handled.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor #Orbán on Wednesday called for a change of leadership in #Brussels as he blasted the #EUs policies on migration and #Ukraine.
Orbán is bidding to tilt the EU in his direction after June’s European election, for which polls currently forecast a right-wing surge. A rightward swing could drastically shift EU policies on key issues from climate to the war in Ukraine.
»Authoritarian populists tilt the democratic playing field to favor themselves and their personal and political interests. Subverting #democracy from the inside without violent repression allows leaders like #Orbán and #Trump to pretend they are democratic. This authoritarianism from within creates #chokepoints where the #opposition isn’t crushed, but it has a hard time breathing.«
Het blijft tamelijk bizar dat partijen als #VVD#NSC en #BBB tijdens de informatie om de tafel zitten met Wilders. Terwijl hij deze maand optreedt met een aantal extremisten en minimaal 1 echte fascist (Posobiec). "United we stand" is de slogan op de conferentie, https://www.cpachungary.com/en/ #CPAC#Wilders#Orban#Posobiec#Politiek#PVV
Budapest: Zehntausende protestieren wieder gegen Orban
Zehntausende Menschen haben in der Innenstadt von Budapest erneut gegen die Regierung protestiert. Angeführt von Hoffnungsträger Magyar forderten sie den Rücktritt von Ministerpräsident Orban.
With continued American #aid to #Ukraine stalled & against the looming prospect of a 2nd Trump presidency, #NATO ofcls are looking to take more #control of directing #military support from Ukraine’s allies — a role that the #US has played for the past 2 yrs.
Stoltenberg would not discuss specifics, but said he hoped to have the new efforts approved in time for a July summit of #NATO ldrs in DC, where ofcls are expected to again debate when #Ukraine might be allowed to join the #military#alliance….
…A… NATO ofcl said that Hungary, where PM Viktor #Orban has maintained warm relations w/ #Russia, opposed the effort to put the #Defense Contact Grp under the alliance’s oversight.
Tausende Menschen haben in Ungarns Hauptstadt Budapest gegen die Regierung von Ministerpräsident Orban protestiert. Anlass waren neue Hinweise auf Korruption in Orbans früherem Kabinett.
Thousands of people protested in Budapest on Tuesday demanding the chief prosecutor and Prime Minister Viktor #Orban resign after a former government insider accused a senior aide to Orban of trying interfere in a graft case.
Peter Magyar earlier published a recording of a conversation with Judit Varga, then his wife and #Hungary's justice minister, in which she detailed an attempt by aides to Orban's cabinet chief to remove certain parts from documents in a graft case.
‘If one looks at today’s rightwing populism, one notices precisely [#fascism’s] cults of the past and of tradition, hostility to any form of criticism, fear of differences and racism, the origins in social frustration, nationalism and fervent belief in plots, the view that the “people” are an elite, the role of the leader in telling his followers what is true, the will to power and the machismo.’ #Trump#Orban#Putin https://on.ft.com/4cuN3I1
Zelensky holds 'focused' call with Orban, invites him to peace summit (kyivindependent.com)
President Volodymyr Zelensky held "a lengthy and focused" call with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on May 8, Zelensky wrote on X.