Aline BlankertzApr 13

Yes, we should all celebrate Orban leaving office. It is a victory in the fight against autocrats - where Orban was a weird ally of the US AND Russia AND China.

But: This has come at a huge cost for any progressive movements in Hungary. Parliament is now run EXCLUSIVELY by right-wing, anti-migration parties. Leftists voted for Magyar to get rid of Orban.

Magyar will be an easier partner for EU institutions (also increasingly anti-migration). He is no ally for the left.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9vg782kx7o

Show threadAline BlankertzApr 13

Rebuilding leftist movements in Hungary will hopefully be easier under Magyar. But it is not a no-brainer and it will take a lot of time and resources. The coalition with Tisza reached its objective of ousting Orban.

Now it is time to build up a meaningful leftist alternative and keep Tisza in check as much as possible.

So to all of the "EU friends" here: Don't embrace Magyar. Just because he is your enemy's enemy, that does not make him your friend.

Show threadHerman 🇪🇺🇺🇦🇾🇪🍋Apr 13
@alineblankertz Let’s see what he does and give him the benefit of the doubt.
Show threadAline Blankertz
@Herman
Don't take it from me, but talk to someone from Hungary to make up your mind. There is little ambiguity re who Magyar is and what he stands for. He is the lesser evil, no doubt, but "benefit of the doubt" would be extremely naive.
Apr 13 at 9:00amWeb
Show threadZ̈oéApr 13
@alineblankertz @Herman I watched his election victory speech and I’m cautiously optimistic. He does stand for a clear separation between church and state, for freedom of (and from) religion, and promised to use his historic legitimacy to restore democratic institutions and reinstate checks & balances. He did say in a half-sentence that equality involves everyone regardless whom one loves, which is the greatest gesture toward lgbtq anyone with power did in Hungary,
Show threadZ̈oéApr 13
@alineblankertz @Herman besides, currently there’s no leftist opposition and I doubt he can easily catch any more brainwashed fidesz voters by doing more right wing populism (they’ll vote the original) or that he has any incentive to drift further to the right, as this would instantly alienate his quite diverse supporters. I surely hope they wont build a new personality cult behind him, currently I’m carefully optimistic.
Show threadHerman 🇪🇺🇺🇦🇾🇪🍋Apr 13
@uint8_t @alineblankertz Me too.