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Comment by peter_neumark | Hacker News Reader

As a citizen, it's been increasingly embarrassing to be associated with what the Hungarian govt has been doing for a while now. Since the war started doubly so. Now we know why.

For non-hungarians: the revolution against the russians in 1956 is probably the most important historic event with remembrances held every year. A persistent gripe is that the international community (western nations in particular) didn't assist the freedom fighters. Orbán's government has been banging this drum very loudly every year during the last decade. Guess which head of state neglected to assist a neighbour in a surprisingly similar situation...

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Looking from the distance with very little information I can't comprehend the decisions that Hungary has made. Russian are a single point of failure. If there is a collapse or civil war in Russia, Hungary's energy sector is doomed (multiple Russian nuclear reactor, gas, oil, coal). Even now, there is a risk of blockade, carbon tax from Russia.

It does look like a corruption?

It is corruption. The entire Hungarian state has been captured by Orban's mafia. ("Mafia" is not an exaggeration. Hungarian state capture works exactly like the Russian with natural resources replaced by EU money.)

This is a way better situation that natural resources because EU can always stop giving that money once it is unhappy with what Hungary does, but it would not be able to take away natural resources.

They started the incredibly expensive and wasteful Paks II nuclear plant extension program financed by Russian loans to diversify the EU faucet. (Although that deals seems to be collapsing now with the war).

Part of Russia's MO in it's former soviet sattelites is to give them cheap loans to increase their influence in those territories.

And now we discovered they used similar tactics for the whole Europe: we sell you cheap gas so that you develop total dependence on us and disregard supply chain diversification as it makes no economic sense... until it's too late.

If Russia wasn't a dictatorship, it'd be normal to be reliant on your neighbors, as this usually helps with keeping peace. It doesn't work when the neighbor in question has no intention of remaining peaceful.

It is way better until Orban leaves the EU and NATO and leaves my sense of security and my EU passport away.

I'm travelling around the world usually and spend only 5 months in Hungary in a year, but I'm getting closer to officially moving to another EU country.

Regarding Russian energy Germany has the big the biggest responsibility to carry because in total cubic meters they are the ones bankrolling the Russian wars. Eastern European states pleased to not start Nord Stream 2 but to deaf ears. UK, US did the same but no. Its easier to bully small Hungary that basically has the same game plan (which I very much disagree with).

> Germany has the big the biggest responsibility to carry because in total cubic meters they are the ones bankrolling the Russian wars

They’ve also owned up to their mistake in a way I can’t find recent comparison for.

How have they owned up? They pause and resume NS 2 multiple times and everything continues as usual. Hard to believe before we see real life next steps.

> How have they owned up?

Freezing Nord Stream 2. Green lighting LNG terminals [1]. Sending arms to Ukraine. Setting a short-term and realistic plan to stop purchasing Russian oil by the end of the year and Russian gas by 2024. Taking steps towards gas rationing [2].

Merkel appeased Putin. But Scholz has--after initial delay--admitted the mistake, tacked hard and accepted the costs. By and large, the German public is behind him on that.

[1] https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/germanys-tes-acceler...

[2] https://www.ft.com/content/0706d6f4-6668-4f67-ab1c-d535d847c...

The thing is, that they have frozen numerous times and given same promises but they have stayed empty. Every time Russia says when the "hysteria" calms down the life goes and it will - it just means Germany's economic needs and interests win. There have been promises for decades and before there are real changes it's difficult to believe Germans while the press will concentrate on Orban and what not. I'm not saying they shouldn't but it's a small fish.

Also, the response is still weak compared to UK (ironically Brexit country) and US.

> the revolution against the russians in 1956 is probably the most important historic event

I thought it would be the Trianon treaty. How much land did you gain or lose in 1956?

Good point, the Trianon treaty and associated loss of territory is an important national trauma (we've got a respectable collection :) ). It's a favorite of populist politicians, but it doesn't deserve a bank holiday like the 1956 revolution. 1956 recently got a full "memorial year" https://www.magyarforradalom1956.hu/ choke-full of thinly veiled campaigning financed with public money.

Do you think your country will vote for another party going forward? Changing course to a more Europe friendly future?

There is a decent opposition movement, but Orbán's clan gradually devoured all media. At this point every single TV station, radio and newspaper with any public funding at all is a channel for propaganda. The incumbent's facebook / google advertising is ~ 3x that of all other parties combined.

Elections are on Sunday, so we'll see. I have my fingers crossed, but if I'm being honest, the descent into a Putineque regime seems unavoidable at this point.

> the descent into a Putineque regime seems unavoidable at this point.

I have hopes that this is not possible because of geographical/geopolitical reasons.

The only question if Orban will have a majority or super-majority

Also the opposition is a mix match of far right-centrist-liberal parties. Not one single party, basically they came together under the umbrella of "anything but Orban" but they have very different views

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