Aral BalkanRE: https://mastodon.ie/@EugeneMcParland/116121085193035222
Can someone explain to me like I’m five why the fuck Hungary is still in the EU?
PassengerMy interpretation is that this is a designated villain thing. Other EU leaders have been making similar comments about funding to Ukraine.
Amro has been@passenger
Nah, that's too simplistic. Hungary ruled by Orban has been objecting to anything EU driven that is too "woke", against the patriarchy etc.
@aral
Nah, that's too simplistic. Hungary ruled by Orban has been objecting to anything EU driven that is too "woke", against the patriarchy etc.
@aral
@passenger @aral
Maybe I should explain a little; for about ten years me and my ex-wife owned a little "Tanya" in rural Hungary. And after years of Orban being in power I was very relieved to finally being able to sell (at a 50% loss). Hungary is beautiful but rural Hungary is very poor, most young people leave for the cities or immigrate and the people that stay have a worldview that is heavily dependent on Orban controlled media.
Racism against Roma is rampant. Off course this is just my experience.
Just don't forget that The Heritage Foundation based their Project 2025 playbook on the way Orban slowly politicized the judicial system etc. etc.
Maybe I should explain a little; for about ten years me and my ex-wife owned a little "Tanya" in rural Hungary. And after years of Orban being in power I was very relieved to finally being able to sell (at a 50% loss). Hungary is beautiful but rural Hungary is very poor, most young people leave for the cities or immigrate and the people that stay have a worldview that is heavily dependent on Orban controlled media.
Racism against Roma is rampant. Off course this is just my experience.
Just don't forget that The Heritage Foundation based their Project 2025 playbook on the way Orban slowly politicized the judicial system etc. etc.
My sympathies to you and to other Hungarians. I have Hungarian friends who left for the same reason. Oppression creates diasporas; I hope one day his regime falls and you can return if you choose to.
That said, I think the difference between Orbán and other European leaders is smaller than we think; on the big issue of migration he's not far out of line, for all that he prefers to bluster and bully rather than use euphemisms like the others. It is my belief that having him in power lets other EU governments do the brutal things they want to, and then say "sorry, we can't behave with even basic humanity, Orbán won't let us."
In political theory, this is called being a "designated villain."
@passenger
I had a few low spoon days which sort of interrupted a response I wanted to give.
I'm sorry I wasn't clear that I'm actually dutch. So, no diaspora for me.
Secondly, I get the "designated villain" theory but to be honest other EU govs don't need him for that.
Today I heard my freshly minted openly gay prime minister defend the most oppressive immigration policies yet. Most EU govs would gladly be rid of Orban because he is hindering them on even the weakest anti-russian or pro-ukrain policies.
The overall feeling I get is that the EU as a whole doesn't want to loose hungary as a member and mostly looks down upon Orban as a political leader. The hope is that Orban will lose the coming elections and the next president will be more EU friendly.
So, I think your idea just doesn't work. To use Orban as an excuse would make other governments seem weak and that's not a good look.