[ruszki]

It depends on the country. It’s not possible to operate large companies in Hungary without paying to the prime minister’s family. When I lived there, I signed a paper at a large multinational company as a simple developer. The paper’s only purpose was to channel EU funds to the family. I was naive, and I thought that it’s a real project, with real work. It wasn’t. Later I realised why some of my coworkers were against it, but I didn’t believe that that company would go down on that route. I was really naive.

[andrepd]

It's extremely fucked up that the EU has this kind of kleptocratic autocracy in its midst not only stealing billions but actively sabotaging its operations, when people have been warning about Hungary for 15 years (the Tavares report is from 2010 I believe).

[ruszki]

It's funny seeing America, and making the same mistakes. We're humans after all.

The transition in Hungary was really seamless. Step-by-step. The Tavares report was still mainly about possibilities. The laws and the new constitution were already there to use them, but they still didn't use their full force. They could pretend that it's a democracy. They still pretend it, and most Hungarians still believe it, even when the government rules by decree for over a decade now, with elections with not equal playing field at all (opposition needs to win over 10% to be 50-50 with the ruling party).

And they're on the next phase. There is a new opposition leader, and it's way more difficult to pretend democracy now. The most interesting is Orban's used to be supporters. They switched like nothing. One day, an opposition adjacent podcaster was satan itself, the next day, "she's all right after all". One of my friend and his siblings argued against Orban with their parents for more than a decade, then the switch was instant. The parents will still choose badly next time, for the bad reasons, and they will allow to happen this again. When MAGA collapses, you can expect the same thing. There won't be any self reflection.

[anonymousDan]

Looks like Trump has taken a leaf out of Orban's notebook. What a depressing situation to be in.