How the EU Successfully Blackmailed Hungary

[@eris9062]

It seems that the EU has given up with appeasement, and is trying to velvet glove Hungary out of the EU, and I for one am glad for this development

[@ciaranbrk]

I’d prefer they not velvet glove them and instead get the big strap on.

[@cockneycharm3970]

​@@ciaranbrk🙄

[@arandombard1197]

I'm British and moved to Hungary. I'm going to be one of the few people to leave the EU twice.

[@Huriel97]

If they could extend this hawkishness to China now that would be great

[@SuperAti15]

@@arandombard1197 I keep my fingers crossed you do ;) Move to Czechia or Poland.

[@MaxpunchIDK]

It's really hard to see why other countries should subsidise Orbans regime. He claims victimhood anyway no matter what happens and blames the EU for whatever goes wrong in his country.

[@theuralictribes5689]

You just described the EU perfectly by playing the victim card and funding a corrupt Ukrainian government while it complains about corruption. Typical double standard hypocrites.

[@temptemp4174]

He is the champion of the far right, keeping asylum seekers out of Europe

[@darnellbiggumsthe9th658]

@Booz2009hungary out of the EU.

[@mikedebruyn]

@Booz2009 Maybe for Hungarians but as a European i would rather see Hungary get nothing anymore and leave the EU. Huxit by choice or by force.

[@MacTac141]

⁠@@mikedebruynAmen to that! Strip them of their money and voting rights IMMEDIATELY. Blackmail and law breakers won’t be tolerated

[@maxthecharacter1296]

Hungary keeps complaining about the EU tactics, but they never express leaving them despite their claims. I guess Budapest knows they can't survive on papa Putin's funds.

[@kenwoolf]

Orbán would love nothing more than to leave the EU. But even with all his brainwashed followers he just doesn't have the support of the people for it yet. I am guessing he is actively trying to get us kicked out now. Then we will be truly fucked. Can't wait. :D

[@BrotherHood-xh9sg]

Like most nations. Most countries in the EU hate the EU.

[@Kevlord22]

Its so freaking bad, Every time i see our country name in a new headline i go "oh no, what did we do" even before reading. They are freaking morons.

[@Wendeta-hq2cp]

@@BrotherHood-xh9sg Correct. And that's because it's an empire!

[@BrotherHood-xh9sg]

@@Wendeta-hq2cp I mean, you aren't wrong. By definition, it definitely counts as one. And like most Empires, people don't like it when an out of touch, foreign group makes decisions about your community, culture, etc.

[@ciaacho1]

I can't believe the EU Summit votes on international issues in a Team Fortress 2 game. That doesn't sound like a safe voting system to me.

[@PatrickJane-jq9zs]

I guess it was Hungary..

[@Joppi1992]

The EU has accepted the status quo with hungary for a long time already. Now that national security politics are part of it though, it needs to be pushed back against, and put up the strictest line possible so that even if Ukraine is lost, there won't be an opening for Russia to advance any further. If Ukraine is lost too soon, the defense build-up to prevent Russian advancement wouldn't get as much room to breathe, leading to a higher risk of faster Russian advancement. Not to mention White Russia, or "Belarus" as they like to be called, are already a major security threat if Russia becomes able to push forward. Money has been the strongest factor in this war so far, although it is disrespectful to Ukraine's forces for saying so, but it's due to shortening the monetary capabilities that Russia is advancing so slowly, and also why not more nations has openly joined Russia's cause yet.

[@jtgd]

It’s actually a common practice in some nations…

[@segiraldovi]

@@Joppi1992 you are so wrong: 1) There are not national security risks, all the countries around Russia are part of NATO and Until now I have not heard any compelling argument that explains why Russia, after Ukraine, would go to a NATO member country. It's all based on paranoia I can assure you that in any eventual negotiations Ukraine will never be allowed to lose access to the Black Sea, it is a red line that the West would not be willing to let pass,I don't think that after the war Russia will gain territories beyond the Dnipro River. 2) The EU wants to send 50 billion dollars to Ukraine for 4 years in war effort which seems absurd to me since we are not even able to know what the situation will be like in 4 months What Hungary proposes by sending annual support seems reasonable to me since the current terms are so arbitrary that they seem like just a nest of corruption where out of every 10 euros: 5 are taken by officials related to the EU, 3 corrupt members of the Ukrainian government and only 2 go directly to the war effort. EDIT: When I was referring to countries around Russia I was obviously referring to the ones in Europe

[@wokeaf1337]

@@segiraldovi How can u say to somebody he is wrong and then follow up which such stupidity like "all countries around Russia are part of NATO" ? Russia borders 15 countries of which only 6 are in NATO: Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, *Estonia* , *Finland* , Georgia, Kazakhstan, North Korea, *Latvia* , *Lithuania* , Mongolia, *Norway* , *Poland* and Ukraine. Japan with sea borders and territorial dispute, also leaving out Transnistria else we would have to add Moldova to the list as well. Also it doesnt matter if the war continues for another 4 years or 4 months in regard to the 50 billion support package because we want to rebuild Ukraine therefore we have to invest in Ukraine since it will become a member of EU.

[@blueskull1119]

Hungary been blackmailing EU and nato for years. In my country we say the "The magic turned against the magician"

[@theuralictribes5689]

Well what do you expect when EU and NATO are the ones always bullying us for ages now so deal with it.

[@adtastic1533]

It's short term thinking at its finest. EU is literally gonna trash the economy of a member state on purpose because they don't want to fund an arms deal. Where u think they gonna turn now for the money? China or Russia? EU just rolled out the red carpet to their biggest enemies.

[@iihamed711]

What country is that? We also say that where I’m from.

[@mostlyguesses8385]

Hey, if you have dumb Constitution that requires unamity you can't complain if a country used that legally given power to demand stuff. And not just Hungary has done this. And EU withheld aid to start this fight. And now Media acts like this little country wants to start a fight, instead of just wanting it's normally share of money.... The Constitution was written EXACTLY to not let Brussels do anything controversial, the Founders didn't want a big Brussels, so literally Brussells is ignoring this and being traitors to the agreed plan for a small EU govt. Each country can send aid, why does EU have to do it, again the Founders didn't want EU to do this stuff ..... EU shows how leaders will steal power, I admire the greed, but Hungary is right.

[@chrishekman6179]

@@mostlyguesses8385 Thats a silly reading of the EU rules. If you want to argue Hungary is justified to use its veto powers to extract special concessions - then it should also be fine for the other countries to use their legal powers to react.

[@CIutchX]

Hungary being pissed because their tactics are starting to backfire is literally what Russia has been doing for the past two years.

[@PatrickJane-jq9zs]

Backfire?! AFD got 48% in a part! But anyway Do you see any protests in Hungary?! Had you see any Tactical Policemen on the Christmas Selling in Hungary?! Well, actually none.. Do we made border control?! (becouse the people not want to stay in Hungary, they want to move to Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, UK) -Who invited the 4,5 billion poverty lived nation to a 350million EU civilian?! (tho not carrying their own homeless civilians?!) -You are still accepting them unlimited, that's why the peasants, freighters/movers, hotel trade protests in your country..

[@sanriosonderweg]

The EU is angry because Orban was right.

[@PatrickJane-jq9zs]

Actually USA is planning to reduce to serve EU with LNG becouse of it's climate changing thing.. Well done EU, just in 2 years, from fix gas, to almost no gas! very good!

[@qinby1182]

People who believes Hungary is "difficult" wait until Ukraine enters LMAO (Will never happen) In my view the fast EU expansion should not have happened. There is a hubris among the western to a large extent former colonial powers that there "Is Only One Way" and this is THEIR WAY. They believe everybody understands this so when the eastern block entered EU they "would see the light" be influenced by us and become like us. In the classic "Western Superiority" hubris mindset it NEVER even entered their minds they would influence us as they do. The larger a group becomes the more opinions and interest there are and the more difficult reaching a consensus is THIS SHOULD BE CLEAR FOR EVERYBODY. In my view EU would be better of smaller but more homogeneous BUT THAT GOES AGAINST THE HUBRIS "We are right and everybody WANTS to be like us"

[@qinby1182]

It is pretty simple EU is built on furthering COMMON INTERESTS hence all countries have veto right so only the "least common denominator" can be decided, hence decisions everybody agree on. Exercising your VETO right IS NOT BLACKMAIL it is your RIGHT and how EU works FOR A REASON. If this right did not exist joining EU would be giving a "blank check" to the majority to suppress the minority and really making voters in the member countries disenfranchised. If all agree all follow them and you do not get a suppression of the minority, to FORCE the minority would destroy EU. To finance war and foreign governments really is not an EU mission. LOADS OF COUNTRIES threatens to veto stuff all the time you just rarely hear about it since this is sorted out during negotiations, issues are not put up for a vote UNTIL they know it will pass. As for not giving Hungary these funds started long before the Ukraine conflict and really is not related. Then really Orban's suggestions and raised questions *HAVE MERIT* Why 50 billion Euro for 4 years??? We do not know what happens in 4 months why make a decision for 4 years??? It is soon elections all over the place and this will force the hand of new elected officials / MEP's / Governments serving them a "fait accompli" and also make the voters in the upcoming elections disenfranchised. Orban say only 1 year at the time, a review every year, this war might not last for more than a couple of months, seems reasonable to me. Why 50 Billion??? Who came up with this number? How and for what?? That SHOULD be easy to tell Orban IF there IS A REASON for this particular sum, seems reasonable to me. Orban also wants this money to come from the ALREADY DECIDED BUDGET, I suspect more countries agree to this, 50 Billion is a lot of money even over 4 years, the TOTAL EU budget for 2022 was 170 billion... What countries wants to pay more??? What country have "spare cash laying around"?? All in all Orban's demands are very reasonable and there really are no reasons WHY NOT just do it that way??? 1 year at a time Why 50 Billion where did this number come from and for what?? This information IF IT EXIST should not be a secret, you know "Democracy and Transparency" As for where the money should be raised from that is really up to each country to decide what they want to contribute. There really is ONLY one reason to do this thru EU. Supporting Ukraine with other peoples money, the MAJORITY of EU's countries are net beneficiaries and really would not pay ANYTHING if this sum was added to the current budget. By paying it from the current budget net beneficiaries would "pay" by getting less money from the EU. Really any country is free to support Ukraine if they want, Hungary is not stopping anybody. Why do it thru EU???

[@Falco.]

VETO power is auch a stupid rule. But once you have it, nobody wants to give it up

[@TheHoneyBadger-yh5vj]

Sad but true 😎😎😎👍👍👍

[@Phil_AKA_ThundyUK]

I veto this comment

[@socialistrepublicofvietnam1500]

Actually I veto you

[@AP-yx1mm]

Yugoslavia worked this way, we know how successful...

[@goughrmp]

It's a great idea. Protects the minority from the tyranny of the majority

[@RipCityBassWorks]

Hungary is a great example in favor of term limits.

[@theSupercasa]

Yeah i mean the dude has been in power for 14 years now and will most likely win the 2026 elections as well, continuing to rule the country like his little toy for a 20 year term.

[@arandombard1197]

The elderly and idiot rural folk would keep electing Fidesz either way.

[@looseycanon]

That would do nothing. Someone like Orban would simply increase the number of terms one can serve...

[@kenwoolf]

It's a better example for how democracy just fails to work when people live in poverty and can't even afford to have access to news not sponsored by the state.

[@averagedemocrat9546]

@@looseycanonOr just remove it like what Xi Jinping and Putin did

[@TheFanatical1]

Shoutout to the editor who managed to sneak a TF2 reference into a news broadcast.

[@andrewrobs]

So good

[@zoltan6451]

NATO's first secretary general, Hastings "Pug" Ismay, famously declared that the organization's mission was "to keep the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down." NATO's mission has not changed in the more than seventy years since 1952 when the organisation founded to oppose the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union fell apart more than thirty years ago, and Russia is not the Soviet Union of old, and left Eastern Europe voluntarily leaving NATO without a mission, and yet the U.S. occupation forces remained in Germany consistent with the original NATO mission statement mentioned above? Russian President VIladimir Putin has claimed that he once raised the possibility of Russia joining NATO with then-President Bill Clinton, and that Clinton said he had "no objection." America remains as committed as ever to keeping the Germans down and preventing Europe from becoming a peer competitor by sabotaging Germany's burgeoning economic co-operation and partnership with Russia, which would have benefited all of us, and this was most vividly demonstrated by the destruction of Nordstream by the U.S., effectively an act of war on Germany. The war in Ukraine was supposed to accomplish two American foreign policy objectives, the first being to bring Russia to its knees economically and the second being to weaken Germany and Europe. Whilst the U.S. has failed abjectly in achieving the first objective, the EU appears to be trapped in a death spiral with industry now unable to rely on cheap energy from Russia relocating out of Germany and the EU while America profits from substituting it's own more expensive gas and it's insatiable Military Industrial Complex earning bilions from supplying new arms and ammunition to Ukraine and to replenish depleted European stocks.

[@ricequackers]

Next up, geopolitics explained using TF2 characters 😂

[@TheMrGazoline]

@@ricequackers who's the spy?

[@nuclearmemester2620]

​@@TheMrGazolineNorth korea.

[@SuperTommox]

Hungarians must decide which side they are on. The EU is not Russia. You can always leave if you don't like what we do.

[@raze956]

who is "we"? i have the impression that its neither you, nor is it me. so who is we? this isnt a rhetorical question.

[@alaeus2310]

​@@raze956 The governments within the european union at large. That's what "we" is. If you joined a club and don't like the rules, you leave. Simple as.

[@filipe5722]

​@@raze956We, the non-Hungarians.

[@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311]

Who is "we"? If you want to make the case for transferring tens of billions to the most corrupt country in Europe (Ukraine) then take that case to national parliaments rather than a Brussels diktat from above.

[@bronektrent694]

@@raze956 Well, not you Ivan. Definitely not you.

[@steffenberr6760]

Its about bloody time.

[@elod7089]

pathetic globalists

[@steffenberr6760]

then dont join "globalist" organizations idiot@@elod7089

[@teun911]

@@elod7089 the world is already global, only together can we progress.

[@kronos7110]

@@elod7089 Orban bowed to us;) And we gave him zero concessions. Funds stay frozen.

[@kronos7110]

@@teun911 If by together you mean democracies.

[@vajnazsombor9397]

As a Hungarian, I am moving out of the country in April. The leadership of this country is a joke, and the future is a tragedy.

[@stariyczedun]

How you guys managed to vote for a new Janos Kadar is beyond me. The previous one was at least installed by the Soviet army.

[@SnowWhiteArches]

Where to?

[@vajnazsombor9397]

@@stariyczedun the media is controlled by the state and there's plenty of stupid people who fall for the propaganda unfortunately. Fidesz' PR team have pretty much unlimited funding and they're doing an excellent job at creating strawmans for every problem the country faces. Also the lack of a properly united opposition doesn't help either. It feels like a lost cause every time there is a vote, so we decided to leave.

[@NémethÁdámBefektetés]

Well said. Wish you the best of luck!

[@amalgama2000]

I am sorry the irritation and hatred towards the Hungarian leaders projects on its people. Many of the Hungarians are great people. I hope you understand why over generalization are inevitable and have thick enough skin for it

[@miguellopes7627]

Hungary tries to blackmail the EU EU responds the same way Hungary: Help we're are being blackmailed

[@theuralictribes5689]

EU: "We absolutely hate corruption and don't tolerate it or corrupt countries!" Also EU: "Proceeds to fund corrupt Ukrainian government using other countries money instead of its own" What a bunch of racist Hungarianophobic hypocrites!

[@TheBlackIdentety]

The Russia playbook. 😂😂

[@JeffPar50]

Orban is just as pathetic as Putin. They squeal "Injustice" every time they are forced to live with the consequences of their own actions

[@swinfeflue]

@@JeffPar50 Using your Veto option is a right. It is not a blackmail. Why should we take out a loan of 50 billion euros for 4 years? Whenever you take out a loan of that sum it has to be paid back, it always complicates things.

[@TheDancing0wind]

@@swinfeflue and EU is using its Veto ... but hey its only bad when others do it. But you know what - you allways have the option to leave. EU is not the soviet union

[@NakamuraRTS]

As a Hungarian, I am appalled that such a little country can hold the entirety of the EU back. Unanimity is undemocratic, as one single rogue member can cause untold damage, as we are witnessing. We need qualified majority voting. If blocked EU funding or article 7 is what it will take for Hungary to stop being Russia's lap dog, then so be it.

[@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311]

You obviously don't know what democracy is. The EU which is not answerable to electorates is deliberately bypassing member states which are answerable to electorates to send huge amounts of money to the most corrupt country in Europe. In a democracy, the people decide. Let member parliaments decide whether to spend this money on a state by state basis, that is far more democratic than diktat from Brussels.

[@ANISMIK]

Well as a Hungarian, you might not give a shit about what the Ukrainians are doing with the ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine, but that says a lot about you. Ursula and the others are no better than Orbán.

[@joostvhts]

@@ANISMIK why not?

[@GustavSvard]

Unanimity worked when it was less than half as many members. With 27 member states it is a bad idea for most decisions, yes.

[@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311]

@@ANISMIK Hungarian speaking areas have the highest proportion of casualties of all Ukrainian regions due to aggressive conscription applied in ethnic minority areas and the Russian east. .

[@Freezyloen]

The EU is such a great concept. It's so sad that so many things weren't thought out well at it's inception. They didn't even make the slightest bit of a system for if a country would need to be kicked out of the EU, knowing that they had a veto right. Plenty of criteria to get in, but once you're in you can do whatever the f*** you want...

[@restoreleader]

Yet there are still options, like this one. The worse problem is, what will NATO do with this, as there are truly no options when one member might be an enemy

[@SnorriTheLlama]

@@AnothertakeonthisGood point about bringing up the USA. It is a good comparison because it has many large states, some which could be countries, and have distinct and sometimes conflicting interests. It helps explain why the US political landscape is different than a lot of countries.

[@Wendeta-hq2cp]

Well it could have been better if it was economic only, like the predecesors. The mistake was adding policy.

[@inbb510]

It was good when it was just a handful of countries. Now there are 27 countries with completely different languages and culture. It is not even comparable with the USA.

[@Ea-pb2tu]

Tbf the EU would never have gotten of the ground without a veto system

[@timor64]

Unanimity has to go. In the meantime it's about time the EU stood up the Hungary's constant dog-in-the-manger foreign policy re the EU

[@Kalimdor199Menegroth]

Unanimity is the only thing that is preventing the EU from turning into the new USSR. As long as this union is made of sovereign states, unanimity should prevail. There is no way to do away with unanimity though, since that is enshrined in the Rome statute. So it will require unanimous approval from all states to do away with it and amend the founding treaty.

[@bushido791]

If unanimity goes so will the union. It will be a matter of time before the major counties start acting in their own interests at the expense of minor counties(they already do, but veto is the last protection of a minor country), which will leave to eventual fragmentation

[@Kalimdor199Menegroth]

@@bushido791 True. And vice-versa. Imagine the minor nations using their number advantage to impose a majority on things the big donor nations don't want. I do not think Germany or France would like that. Also, most of the nations that advocate for the removal of unanimity are against it only when it doesn't suit them. Typical hypocritical imperialist attitude.

[@Kalimdor199Menegroth]

@@Larsino2000 To be fair to the UK, the political establishment happily signed everything, regardless of what their people thought. David Cameron never believed that the referendum he would organize would result in Brexit. He thought that, just like the Scottish referendum, he will get his way by a slight margin. Things turned out different and Brexit happened. We are living during a time when most of the political elite that runs our nations are completely detached from the common folk. And this is why they go full Pikachu face when elections don't go their way. Had they been connected with the people, they would've known where the wind is blowing.

[@PatrickJane-jq9zs]

Where are you from?! Atleast as a Hungarian I want to know, From where the person keep speech how to live in Hungary or on the Eastern EU part..

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

I find the EU-Hungary issue on veto to be funny in some way because this is the exact same situation the US finds itself during the Confederation Period (1781-1787). Prior to the current US Constitution, the US is governed under the Articles of Confederation where among other things, any matter involving the US (as Congress Assembled) as a whole must be voted in a unanimous vote. Problem is that Rhode Island always veto anything that affects the US as a whole regardless of reason. This is why the US Constitution came about: to solve some of those flaws in the document. HOW the US Constitution came about is a funny story in of itself: as amending the Articles require a unanimous vote and Rhode Island WILL veto it, the 12 other states decide to IGNORE Rhode Island and go ahead with the Convention. In a way, the EU is doing a repeat of what the 12 US States in 1787: ignore the obstruction and go ahead with their plan...

[@ALFarrell-kv6ok]

That's an interesting and informative comment.

[@PashkaBear]

O wow that's very interesting. I hope EU has the audacity go go ahead.

[@dragosi8980]

The problem with Hungary is that they want to have their cake and eat it too. They want the benefits that come with being a memeber of EU and NATO, but also want the benefits that come with being friends with Russia and China. I think they should be allowed to be friends with Russia and China, but if the overwhelming majority of the EU has decided otherwise, then this is how EU should act, as this the definition of democracy. Hungary has ~ 2% EU's population and area. Since when does 2% decide for 98%? I really thing they should act stronger against them, since realistically speaking they don't really have anything that important - they are not too rich, they are landlocked, they are in an area surrounded by EU countries, etc. Hungary needs the EU a lot of than the EU needs Hungary.

[@dragosi8980]

@@Anothertakeonthis the EU is like a club. If the club has decided to go on a route you have 2 choices - go on that route or leave. No one is presurring Hungary to stay

[@restoreleader]

Problem is, that being friend with such regimes means doing their bidding. I doubt they need friends that will still vote against them. Its even worse with NATO, as its not clear whether/when this friendship changes from talks and blackmail to actual treason

[@Dargor110]

@@dragosi8980 No it is not. If it were we could just leave. Basically to join, we had to cut off our feet, with the promise of an electric wheelchair. Leaving we wont get our feet back, and the wheelchairs batteries are witheld.

[@Wendeta-hq2cp]

How about they use HU as a stepping stone to peace instead? Cooperation, not opression!

[@Newbyte]

@@Dargor110 How is joining the EU anything like "cutting off your feet"

[@Hugo-tv9ht]

If the Hungarian government thinks it can live off our collective European tax money while acting like it’s in any shape or form independent then it must suffer the consequences and the EU should make the decisions that are in everyone else’s collective interest

[@theuralictribes5689]

We Hungarians only want our part of the money that WE invested and is being paid to a corrupt Ukrainian government and hence it's why we vetoed it. Maybe if you weren't such a racist Hungarianophobe you wouldn't be saying something stupid.

[@Wendeta-hq2cp]

Lenin agrees! 👍

[@ad3mn]

I would like to know what an avg German taxpayer thinks about this Ukraine aid, because their leader is in the white house almost every week.

[@Wendeta-hq2cp]

@@ad3mn Right? And they want to give our money away to a foreigner but refuse to distribute it to a member! Empire at its strongest!

[@ChristiaanHW]

@@ad3mn unlike you, the average German (and any EU) citizen knows that it's cheaper (both in money and lives) to have help Ukraine in fighting Russia than it is to wait for the war to reach EU soil and have to fight Russia in our own cities. and the White House wishes they could make the EU do whatever they want, but the opposite is true. the longer the EU exists the less power the US has over them. the EU is even telling companies like Apple and Facebook what they can and can't do. and the US has trouble having those companies follow the law. those companies try to milk the American citizens in whatever way they think they can.

[@spikehamer2]

Team Fortress 2 reference was truly unexpected but very welcomed

[@jimshannononsounds]

Hopefully, Hungary's EU need is greater than Putin's "loyalty."

[@weiserwolf580]

to be honest, if you are neighbors with Hungarians, it would be more beneficial to hope that those Huns lose access to European funds, not only that European funds are actually paid by Hungary's neighboring countries, but The Magyars have claims of territorial annexation in all the countries around them, they reverted back to being Mongols (pillaging and stealing territories).

[@AshesOfTheKing]

Hungary should just join Russia at this point

[@badluck5647]

Trump - Orban - Putin Make Autocrats Great Again

[@hkszerlahdgshezraj5219]

I think Orbán is betting on a wave of autocracy in the future in the EU and many other countries. And he wants to be on the winning side this time. I don't think his machine needs these EU funds, they would just be nice to steal. He'd rather be on the side of his autocrat friends than the EU. He'd rather build chinese factories than keep / support german ones.

[@paul1979uk2000]

We'll see, but what surprises me is the people of Hungary, why are they sitting by why all this is going on? don't they realise that the economic harm is going to hit them all if they are not careful.

[@thodoriss3068]

Everyone is cheering the EU's blackmail, but no one stops to think where does the blackmail stop? Could another country face it in the future? This behaviour by the EU isn't unprecedented. 10 years ago they did the same thing to greece and hungarians were cheering on as most other europeans. Today, hungarians are on the receiving end. I ask anyone cheering this practice, could your country be next? And for what reason?

[@RannonSi]

No, it's very much not blackmail! The thing with Hungary is that the funding has been withheld for years because his government has embezzled funding, overreached into the freedom of the press and has overreached into the judicial system. And while my memory is a bit hazy, but wasn't part of Greece's problem that it'd lied about its debts when joining EU/Euro? And the conditions put on Greece, weren't they because the other members didn't want to give- or lend their money to a country they didn't trust to make good monetary decisions?

[@thodoriss3068]

@@RannonSi Those are the excuses for the blackmail. France and Poland have committed similar offences against European values and rules , but no one is cutting their funding. Hungary had been doing this back when Greece was on the chopping block, but orban was an esteemed democratic leader and no one spoke about these offences. The reason for that is that all of them serve certain interests, so we let them do whatever they want. As soon as they go against those interests, they get sanctioned for breaking the rules. Like I said, be careful what practices you accept, because your country could very well be next.

[@csabakis4214]

As a hungarian with some insight -> let me put things in context = Orbán cares for only 2 things -> powergrabbing/holding onto power + financing the rampant corruption of his oligarchs; those are his only aims since he got into power in 2010 (he was also PM back in 1998-2002 with the same attitude, but since Hungary was not in the EU yet back then + his coalition partners kept him in check to a certain degree) ... he is NO real friend of Putin, he started his career (around 1990) with a vehement anti-russian speech demanding the removal of Soviet troops from Hungary; back then Orbán (=Fidesz-party) was on the far left side ... it did not work out for him in the 90s, so he turned his coat to the far right + nationalism, one of his nickname is "MiniBenito" (after Benito Mussolini, who started his career similarly on the left, then moved to the right and became a dictator) ... So Orbán is a con-artist without any firm/real priciples -> the time will come when he must face all the crimes/shenanigans he did in the past decades -> sadly the blunt of the negative effects will affect the hungarian population as a whole ... more sadly in the current election system there is basically no real chance to remove him from power by ordinary means ... thats the real tragedy!

[@Hyper584k]

Why don’t you prosecute him? Make all the evidence public!

[@kenwoolf]

All the evidence is public. But the majority of people who vote for him are too busy trying to survive. Not to mention everyone in power is there cause they are part of Orbán's circles.

[@nyaatell]

" he is NO real friend of Putin, he started his career" Cool story. He is de facto aiding Putin, regardless of this 'friendship' being real or not.

[@RannonSi]

@@nyaatell I'm guessing that'd be the difference between friends and allies. Allies help you as long as there's something for you, friends help you to the detriment of themselves.

[@micumatrix]

Same old story as in most east European countries, but it was sad, that the mixed anti-Orban coalition didn’t succeed. Then things could have been reversed a bit, like in Poland. I hope Orban trips and the fiery Hungarian democrats wave the flag with a hole in the middle like in old times ;) The demography is sadly making in whole Europe the old to be half of the voters and this leads to many and strong nationalistic-revisionistic movements…

[@getnohappy]

'Blackmail' is a weird way to spell 'the consequences of their actions' but OK

[@war-painter]

I wish Hungarians would kick the toad out. Being half Hungarian, he offends me greatly by his presence, especially as he is NOT democratic and he pandering to putin, which is disgraceful.🇺🇦🇺🇸

[@secondaryaccount7431]

because EU is vindicative

[@AZIARGROUS]

Love the TF2 throwback! you guys rock!

[@stxarcollision]

If Hungary does not like EU regulations, maybe they should leave...

[@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311]

They'd love to but they can't because they're landlocked.

[@soulsborne7765]

​@@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311they can just be friends with serbs and montenegrins

[@cummerou1]

​@@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311 EU and Europe are not the same, they can leave the EU just fine

[@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311]

@@soulsborne7765 Sort of a but a small country needs trade with its big neighbours. And we know from Brexit that the EU will use trade to punish a country that leaves.

[@joelimbergamo639]

​@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311 the EU hasn't punished the UK, the EU tried to avoid tarifs and border checks, but the UK insisted on having them. The only thing that the UK didn't want but it was "forced" was that trade disputes in NI(single market sill) would be dealer by the EU tribunal. They got everything they asked for otherwise

[@liamcallahan9693]

Of all things I’ve seen in a TLDR video, I never thought TF2 would be one of them

[@ALFarrell-kv6ok]

Hungary needs to decide whether it wishes to go with Russia's $1.8 trillion economy or with Europe's $18.5 trillion economy. I'm delighted to see the EU putting the gun to Orban's head. He's a Russian asset. And I wish the EU would switch to majority rule instead of being a hostage to any one or two countries.

[@S41GON]

Russia has energy and raw materials, the EU doesn't.

[@ALFarrell-kv6ok]

@@S41GON Well, Scandinavia has mineral wealth, and of course Norway has oil and gas. There is actually a scattering of mineral deposits across Europe. And Ukraine has more than most. But there is a rapid move toward renewable sources of energy across the continent. Wind, wave, solar, hydro-electric and others. And those are going to be augmented in the coming years with lots of SMRs or Small Modular Reactors. By 2030 Europe will be more than 75% on such renewables.

[@S41GON]

@@ALFarrell-kv6ok 75% renewables is a delusional pipedream. Renewables are expensive, unreliable and aren't viable without state subsidies, not to mention the enourmous investment needed in battery store capacity and the grid to make it work.

[@itsallogre6411]

Tf2 meme made me chuckle. Loved it

[@RomWatt]

It's not "blackmail", the EU has just had enough of Orban's bs and are putting him back in line. Also, I love that they used TF2's voting UI to represent the votes.

[@swinfeflue]

What BS if you don't mind explaining? Hungary is just using the rights the EU gave. If a member state does not agree with taking out a a huge loan with other member states, that member shouldn't be bullied into making that decision. Why don't countries just give money on their own? Orban did say that would be the best

[@adamtideman4953]

@@swinfeflue You're either ignorant or a Russian troll if you think Orban has any good reason for upholding Ukraine aid. Viktor Orban is a troublemaker on Putins behalf, it's as simple as that. Any chance he has to undermine the EU or the US he takes. Orban is also stalling Swedens application to NATO for no reason. What is your excuse for that?

[@Brown95P]

@2:54 Massive respect for the TF2 joke; not all the time the game pops up as a reference like this. Definitely like how we're using technicalities to bypass Hungary's blatant abuse of his veto as well; would've been nicer if we had implemented majority voting instead, but this will do as a stopgap for now.

[@GRegBellay]

Yay, a video of my country! Oh, wait...

[@cdcdrr]

Orban forgot the rule about the hand that feeds: If you bite it, it'll slap you across the face.

[@numberlessconglomerate]

It's terrifying how many people are happy about what happened

[@IrrationalCharm]

A country with hardly 10million people is vetoing a coalition of countries of nearly 440million people. I'd say that hungary abusing his veto power is a understatment.

[@vajnazsombor9397]

If you would ask those 440 mil people of they would like to send their tax money to Ukraine I'm pretty sure the numbers would look different

[@RannonSi]

@@vajnazsombor9397 If you asked those people if they'd like to send money to Orbán&Co (due to the embezzlement), how do you think they'd vote?

[@DivineFrag]

THE TEAM FORTRESS 2 VOTE LOL

[@Rui301]

Honestly I like the news. It might accelerate the push to remove vetoes and go into a super majority vote, kick Hungary all together or trigger the suspension clause on Orbans clown ass. Either way it goes I'm happy. Hungary needs consequences for its unacceptable behavior and the EU can't keep looking weak.

[@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311]

think about what you're saying - diktat from above - do you really want to recreate the Soviet Union in Western Europe?

[@Hyper584k]

How about the unacceptable behaviour of funding a war that the EU has nothing to do with, with the tax payers money, in a cost of living crisis? I don’t think Ukraine is buying the weapons out of their own corrupt pockets, maybe they should ask for money from the IMF. The citizens of multiple eastern european countries are against funding this war, including the people of hungary. The hungarian government is executing what the majority of Hungarians are supporting.

[@Rui301]

@@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311 Wdym? How do you figure we will have a new soviet union if we dont keep getting screwed by Hungary?

[@cummerou1]

​@@Hyper584kAnd most of the EU is against funding Hungary, a lazy and ungrateful country who expects constant handouts during a cost of living crisis, and only gives back constant obstruction and scorn. Yet Hungary continues to demand money from everyone else

[@Rui301]

@@Hyper584k This is just 1 point. Hungary has been blackmailing the EU on every step. Hilarious to call Ukraine corrupt while defending Hungary. Im not even saying you're wrong i have no clue how Ukraine is doing on corruption but i do know how Hungary is doing and you're a hypocrite in that aspect. Also i see nothing wrong with helping Ukraine after the brutal and unprovoked Russian attack. Its in eastern europes best interest things arent easy for the Russians. Do you figure if they took Ukraine quickly like they planned they wouldn't look at other former soviet countries?

[@mike4480]

..Thanks for touching on this issue, It’s been under the surface for years and needs to be addressed asap….

[@liberalegypt]

I think the problem of Hungary and Serbia is the same problem This is the problem resulting from the shrinkage of the size of their lands in favor of their neighbors So they both act as Russian agents willing to destroy the European Union But fortunately for Europe, it did not accept Serbia's membership But it accepted Hungary's membership and is still suffering from the choices of its people in choosing populist Putinist mini-models with which to vent their anger against Europe

[@dso4594]

Loving this comment section. It’s about taking responsibility for your actions. Something that Hungary clearly has to learn.

[@Nowherenear-w1d]

Enough is enough. Blackmail sometimes backfires

[@erwindewit4073]

I feel for Hungarians, but I wonder why it took SO long before the EU finally decided to do something. But in the end, it will hit Hungarian citizens. Even though they keep voting for Orban time and time again.. (that still is a democracy, and not really a fair vote).

[@ettoreatalan8303]

If you make bad choices again and again, you will have to bear the consequences at some point.

[@erwindewit4073]

@@ettoreatalan8303 Still kind of hard, when they lie to you all the time, and by far most TV time is for Orban...

[@ettoreatalan8303]

​@@erwindewit4073 Ignorance of facts excuses no one.

[@maryanchabursky9148]

Its not blackmailing it’s just a reminder for Hungry of the realities it will face if it goes too far. I believe the Americans call this the “finding out” stage.

[@lorenzofalorni3961]

When the EU does it it's blackmail, but when Turkey Poland or Hungary goes it it isn't?

[@superjonne7916]

Hungary isn't blackmailing anyone, they just don't want to send any aid to Ukraine. Nothing is stopping the other member states from sending aid

[@24389234]

the EU has to get away from its present system of all 27 countries having to agree on something and change to majority voting. 27 people in a room would not be able to agree on the time of day.

[@ayoCC]

I think what's more important first is that member states need to consistently be checked for fulfilling the requirements of even joining the EU or face sanctions up until the point of losing their veto rights. I would want unanimous voting across democratic and benevolent actors. I think it's the correct choice to do both, however it might scare off new members. In terms of strategic and security decisions rather than economic development I would say it has to be something that should be harder to veto. Also unanimous voting makes sure that member states don't make EU a scapegoat for everything about their local regime. I think voting power and being in the EU should be separate then. If you aren't fulfilling EU democratic standards, don't you don't get a vote. Sort of similar problem with NATO, countries were supposed to be democratic when joining but now...

[@arbor3612]

That Team Fortress 2 reference was marvelous.

[@komocity269]

Imagine blackmailing for years 26 countries trying to take a common decision and then complaining when those 26 countries (even Poland - like its that serious) have had enough with you ....

[@nydydn]

I like this. This is like cutting the middle man and talking directly to the Hungarian people. The EU message to the Hungarian people is clear. "If you don't want to collaborate, fine, be alone and do your thing and figure stuff out for yourself." Britain couldn't eat the cake and still have it. Neither will Hungary. There is a difference between UK and Hungary though. UK was way more honest about everything. They didn't want to collaborate with the rest of the EU, so they got out. Sure, later they figured that they actually want to collaborate on some things. On some of those things solutions were found, but other things can be done only as part of EU. They can now think and figure whether it's worth it or not for them to be part of EU. Hungary on the other hand wants to pretend it collaborates, while not collaborating on anything. I guess that's the difference between the rule of law and the rule of Orban the dictator. People of Hungary must decide what they want and they also have to take responsibility for their decisions.

[@rmnts]

EU should do three things: 1. kick Hungary out. 2. EU should change rules so that one veto does not paralyze EU. 3. to be able to join EU country has to be democratic and so on, add rule if country reached some kind of threshold it is kicked out of EU automatically.

[@irminschembri8263]

So if a club member acts against the rules it signed up for aka " obstructionism" (as you called it) and the club committee kindly tells the member the consequences that is called " blackmail" now ??? Geeeze, that is emotional speech and contra productive when we talk about international relationships or politics and below the level I expect from TLDR !

[@AMW1able]

clearly you missed the part where it was an EU official who used the term "blackmail". It's not TLDR using emotional speech. They're reporting what was said.

[@mabus4910]

Technicaly (at least to my knowledge) Hungary did not break any rules per se.

[@Wendeta-hq2cp]

​@@mabus4910 They didn't. But the empire hates dissent.

[@mabus4910]

@@Wendeta-hq2cp What a stupid opinion. Don't understand me wrong. I don't think Orban is right. I am just saying that technically he did not break any law.

[@Wendeta-hq2cp]

@@mabus4910 Lol good that the opening involved an insult instead of civility. Just shows how bad things are when empire dissent is shut down!

[@heroes8844]

This title should be :How Hungary blackmailed EU and backfired.

[@Elixir9]

It's part of the famous European democracy if someone votes differently to punish him.

[@vih-qq9pm]

Nobody seems to want to explain why Hungary is doing this.

[@tikkurilaboi6893]

3:01 genius tf2 refrence, i love it.

[@S41GON]

FALSE INFORMATION. Hungary doesn't rely on international markets to finance most of its debt. Foreign investors hold only 36% of Hungarian debt, 64% is held by nationals (2023). The foreign currency denominated ratio of the national debt is 26% (2023).

[@GeliCarlosJ]

The EU really needs to get rid of the unanimity rule and implement a different threshold to get shit passed. Otherwise no shot they'll even entertain letting other nations in lest there be even more nations with leaders like Hungary holding up everything

[@ScottE77]

Why doesn't each individual country just send the funds they want instead? Why do they need Hungary at all?

[@ettoreatalan8303]

If Viktor Orbán does not like the EU's approach, Hungary can initiate its exit from the EU. The application to leave the EU will certainly be processed very quickly in Brussels.😂

[@janpiorko3809]

Blackmail is such an ugly word. We here at EU prefer „an offer they can’t refuse”

[@warb635]

Or a meal that hungry Hungary can't but swallow.

[@Wendeta-hq2cp]

I expect that will go well. Like HU deciding to leave the table and encourage everyone upset (like SK, NE, IT) to do the same. Nice precedent!

[@nyaatell]

@@Wendeta-hq2cp Keep dreaming, traitor.

[@knifekitty_ls]

@kaiserfranzjoseph9311 how about negative financial incentive

[@davidblair9877]

@@Wendeta-hq2cpbecause that worked out so well for Britain, didn’t it? Oh, right.

[@stevekontis8992]

What part of voting does the EU not understand. Forcing a result in a vote is not democratic. Is this the same EU that is supporting Ukraine to protect democratic principles and freedom? This is behaviour expected from Putin, not the EU.

[@AaronOkeanos]

Well it's a Veto this is a little different. But I agree the Veto power needs adjusting to respect the majority vote or better A majority vote because votes also have to be unanimous in the EU why so many things move so slowly.

[@stevekontis8992]

@@AaronOkeanos You are right it is a veto power. But it is a veto power that all members should share equally. Attacking any one member for using their veto right reflects badly on Europe. Remember the last two leaders that wanted a Europe with one voice, Napoleon and Hitler; didn't work out too well. Perhaps Europe should look at confederation.

[@RannonSi]

The reason the funds have been withheld (for years) is because Orbán's government has embezzled the funds, overreached into the judicial system and curtailed the freedom of the press. On top of that, they've been using the veto as a way to blackmail themselves some funding, instead of actually fixing their corruption problems.

[@stevekontis8992]

@@RannonSi I totally agree with you. Orban definitely has his issues, non of them good. That being said, he does have the right of veto like any other EU country. Is he taking advantage of the veto? Of course he is. But according to EU law he has the right to do so. Moreover, this veto right has been used by other members of the EU when it suited their interests. Therefore, it is a tad disingenuous for the EU to whine at Orban's use of the veto.

[@radosawmarkowski5379]

Blackmailing Hungary back isn’t immoral, it’s common sense

[@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311]

Spoken like a true Soviet apparatchik

[@ElRabito]

@@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311 Take your pills and i will tell the psych ward to take away your internet access.....

[@mariuspuiu9555]

@@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311 the only soviet here is Orban.

[@Wendeta-hq2cp]

​@@mariuspuiu9555 He used the rules my friend! I don't like him but he's correct!

[@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311]

@@mariuspuiu9555 No, he's popular in Hungary and if the Hungarian people don't want him, he'll be gone. The EU commissioners and appartchiks can not be removed by democratic means. If you want o argue against this you don't have a clue how the EU works.

[@mariuspuiu9555]

If hungary wants to blackmail the EU then they should be prepared to the opposite to happen too. Enough is enough. It's time for Hungary to decide between the EU and Putin.

[@DeanFWilson]

It clearly worked, as Hungary did indeed back down. Orban clearly didn't like a taste of his own medicine.

[@qitang7937]

Hungary should be kicked out of EU, what's the point for them to be in EU ????????

[@mrnobody3161]

Sanction Orban's ass into Oblivion

[@chris52386]

If Hungary left or was pushed out of the EU, the Chinese car manufacturers, BYD, may think again about building their first car plant in Europe in Hungary!

[@Bayard1503]

And what would they gain by doing that?? If Hungary is out of the EU with scandal all border taxes return. So by that logic they could build it in any non-EU country already.

[@ParasocialCatgirl]

​@@Bayard1503Well, I'm assuming they're planning on building it in Hungary due to it being cheaper than other member states, perhaps some additional incentives offered by Orban, and is still a member state. OP is saying 'just kick Hungary from the EU so Hungary loses all of the benefits it gains from being an EU member state. For example, it'll make it harder for Hungary to attract international investment - Non-EU-based MNCs are considering building facilities in Hungary due to Hungary being in the EU, but, if Hungary was ejected from the EU, Hungary wouldn't be able to use that to attract investment, and those companies would invest into the economy of a different EU state instead'

[@kenwoolf]

They aren't building it here because it's in the EU. They are building it here because nobody else wants battery manufacturing in their country. But Orbán is more than willing to sacrifice the Hungarian people for some money under the table.

[@danielebowman]

Hungary can't be pushed out the EU. There is no mechanism for it.

[@swinfeflue]

@@ParasocialCatgirl Hungary is just using its Veto right that the EU gave. I don't understand what's the issue. They can't "kick out" Hungary because that would be the end of the EU. EU shouldn't bully other member states.

[@starvingpeoplecantcomplain]

The EU should have admonished Hungary long ago. The EU must finally stop payments to the Hungarian Government and even take tougher actions like restricting market access and freedom of movement until Hungary is in compliance with the EU rule of law and democracy standards

[@JaegerDreadful]

The TF2 references were hilarious lmao

[@allannelson5806]

Count on Hungry to screw itself. Always choosing losers to lead them.

[@ChineseKiwi]

3:02 - we know you pressed F1 too.

[@wensdyy6466]

5:31 since when is Czechia a neighbor to Hungary...

[@vivienzentai7048]

This unfortunately can happen if a Stark goes to Kings Landing.

[@RollieCallow]

The EU didn’t blackmail Hungary , the EU loves the Hungarian people, Orban a Quasi dictator alone tried to blackmail the EU

[@mateifirica6126]

We gotta find a way not to harm the average hungarian citizen. Even if they voted for orban they should not suffer because of the toad's actions. For all I care most of his voters were tricked.

[@ParasocialCatgirl]

Thing is, it's unfortunately very difficult to do so. In a democratic state, the people in power secure the power by gaining the approval/non-disapproval of the people. If a country's having good times with plenty of investment in improving the lives of the average citizen, that tends to increase support for the incumbent government, and helps them to remain in power following elections. Likewise, when things end up going shit for everyone due to the actions of the leader, that naturally reduces support for the incumbent government, and makes it harder for the incumbent government to retain power. So, Orban has a vested interest in trying to keep the citizens of Hungary in a non-shit situation, and keeping the lives of the people non-shit indirectly helps Orban by reducing discontent from the Hungarian public. And, ultimately, the funds the EU provides to Hungary serve to allow Hungary to put less effort into funding domestic improvements itself (as they can use the free money from the EU instead of needing to fund it via taxes or whatever). --- Orban is currently refusing to help the EU to help Ukraine - despite the other EU member states wanting to support Ukraine. Therefore, the other states are taking the approach of 'If you won't support us helping others, we won't help you'. Hungarian Citizens are still EU citizens, of course, so they do still have the rights to freely emigrate and such within the EU, and chances are that, if needed, they might be able to get some under-the-table support to get away from Hungary. Then again, a policy of 'actively encouraging dissatisfied Hungarian citizens to leave Hungary' would probably backfire, with Orban being likely to take the approach of 'yep, these dissatisfied people are your problem now, less work for me, and fewer people to protest, campaign, and vote against me!' --- Ultimately, I genuinely respect the intent here, and I too wish it was possible. But, unfortunately, it's practically impossible to achieve.

[@yenlinhtran69]

They are collectively responsible for this mess and their own actions

[@Zappina]

@@Anothertakeonthis LOL. You dont know nothing about Hungary, do you?

[@Zappina]

@@AnothertakeonthisLets just say Hungary was multicultural long before the word even invented. It was also multicultural during time of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. No wonder Hungary was and i guess is the spy center of Europe.

[@jeremybiggs8413]

For something that’s supposed to be just a trading block, it doesn’t half look like a political project. I’m no fan of Hungary and certainly not Orban, but these kind of machinations add legitimacy to Varoufakis and Brexiteers criticisms of the EU.

[@Wendeta-hq2cp]

It's because that criticism is true. The Onion needs to end!

[@RannonSi]

The EU has been a political project since long before either the UK or Hungary joined. Both countries knew what they joined, and when it comes to the UK, they were behind (or supported) quite a few of the things they've since slammed the EU for.

[@davidblair9877]

The E.U. was a political project from the beginning. That’s why it has government bodies. I’m not sure how anyone still thinks it’s “just a trading block”. The E.U. replaced the EEA twenty years ago: did y’all sleep through the last two decades?

[@ettoreatalan8303]

The EU was never supposed to be just a trading block.

[@Chag69420]

The member states could send the money outside of the the EU apparatus, but they'd have to do so via their own parliaments, who probably would vote against spending so much money... So you're saying the EU works outside and above their member nations, and local parliaments should get no say? Yeah, this doesn't should very Democratic.

[@davidkinnear1905]

So you're saying that national parliaments work outside and above their regional parliaments. Yeah this doesn't sound very democratic.

[@tiarnola]

@@davidkinnear1905 Equivocating local councils to national parliaments with national parliaments to the EU is wrong. The EU isn't a federal government.

[@davidkinnear1905]

It's the whole point of the EU mate. It isn't a federal government, but the idea of the Union is giving it certain prerrogatives above national parliaments. Without it common legal frameworks wouldn't be possible.@@tiarnola

[@kristjanpeil]

Wow. When we're talking about investor confidence spookage, then this wasn't blackmail, but an opening salvo, perhaps a shot across the bow? Like the beloved Jack O'Neill said: 'ss whatcha get for dickin' around.

[@manwiththeredface7821]

Not all Hungarians support what Orbán's been doing. Exactly like not all Brits were for Brexit either.

[@Hyper584k]

Correct, but most of them in both cases

[@1verstapp]

prob best if orban left the room permanently.

[@bababababababa6124]

By “room” do you mean life 💀

[@effexon]

orban seems bad with economy so he sticks for money and counts on EU bending. if russia is that important, they should pay like 50bn a year for this privilege but seems orban is way too cheap for russia.

[@Kalimdor199Menegroth]

The problem is that if you actively sabotage the Hungarian economy, you are not only hitting Orban. You are hitting at the Hungarian population. We already know that sanctions placed on state entities do not make incumbent leaders less popular, but on the opposite, it makes them more popular and cements their rule. Because the population will come to see that not Orban is the problem, but the EU. This will only fuel euroskepticism and anti-EU sentiment in the population. I do not think this is what EU wants, considering that the prospects for the next EP election looks sort of bleak for the establishment party families.

[@ASocialistTransGirl]

@@bababababababa6124no, the room in question is the european parliament; to permanently leave it is to leave the EU

[@Wendeta-hq2cp]

​@@ASocialistTransGirl That would be cool! Huexit, Nexit, Itexit, then Dexit, Frexit, Plexit and so on! In the end it will be just Belgium!

[@politicalpuppy17]

How is it blackmail by any stretch of the imagination if Hungary just isn't sticking to agreements? I'd call it consequences.

[@attilakovacs2231]

Which agreements are you referring to?

[@RannonSi]

@@attilakovacs2231 I'm pretty sure there are EU rules about embezzling EU funds, overreaching into the judicial system and curtailing the freedom of the press.

[@attilakovacs2231]

Ühüm. @@RannonSi

[@Owner212]

Loving that TF2 reference

[@lorenzoluisalbano3695]

In Spanish there's a saying "Amor con amor se paga". Love is paid with love. And vice versa. The meaning is tremendously pointed, and the authoritarian Russian mole in the EU is getting some love back now...

[@djp1234]

Hungary needs to get kicked out of EU/NATO. It's a requirement to be a democracy to join these organizations. Working for Putin should be an automatic disqualification.

[@Bolsonaro_em_Haia]

The way I see it, there was really no alternative. Orban has been abusing his position for quite some time. Kudos for the EU for putting him in his place.

[@SpazzyMcGee1337]

It's like negotiating with a tumor.

[@hellokittykitty737]

😂😂😂😂

[@joechang8696]

really this is a structural problem with the EU in requiring unanimity in too many things. Rethink what should be allowed with a simple majority, an supermajority of some degree, and only have a narrow range that requires unanimous agreement

[@saattlebrutaz]

It's not blackmail it's just a deal. Hungary can pound dirt.

[@CautionCU]

It's like Uncle Larry is threatening to move out of the living room couch.

[@NoName-hg6cc]

EU is not blackmailing anyone; Hungary is and EU is going to stop them

[@finlaysharpe844]

Qualified majority voting please

[@sonneh86]

Or at least a super majority

[@danielgospodinov5786]

I am not a Hungarian, but i have 2 EU citizenships and i voted for the governments which will not give the money for our children's future away! There are protests all over the Europe.

[@vijfsnippervijf]

This is why the EU should be allowed to more easily revoke rights for it's members.

[@stomeka]

And bocome a happy globalist continent without any democracy...

[@alter-nator]

Is there a way to permanently disconnect Urban?

[@belabahn]

There's no legal way to disconnect him. One can only hope that the treatment in the clinic in Graz will not prolong him too much, or his organs gave up because of the "so healthy" Hungarian food. Other than this, you could get him a Novichok-booster, a cup of Polonium Tea or offer him a flight (as with Prigozhin).

[@davidblair9877]

There is, actually. The E.U. Parliament can vote to strip Hungary of its voting rights on the Council. If the Council agrees unanimously (except for Orban, obviously), well, *poof,* there goes his veto. Considering that he just lost his only friend on the Council (Duda), it’s a real possibility now.

[@belabahn]

@@davidblair9877 Then his narcissistic ass will be even more butthurt, and will project the "EU doesn't like ME" as "EU doesn't like US" viewpoint. - Behaving like an angry offended preschooler and he will kick the propaganda into higher gear in campaigning for leaving the EU "cause THEY DON'T LOVE US". While in reality it's not the whole of Hungary, just that fathead Orbán who is not very fond of the EU, when there are conditions of democracy attached to the money coming into the country.

[@Zappina]

@@davidblair9877 Nope, its not. It never was. If you strip the veto power from one of its member(and reasons are not a huge factor here) other countries will wonder when they will be next when they will have a disagreement with the "central power". That would be the end of the EU. No wonder why they didnt do something like that.

[@qdaniele97]

The EU has to move away from votes by unanimity. It has grown waaay past the limits for where it's sensible to expect unanimity will be reached every time. Edit: Originally, I wrote "absolute majority" in place of "unanimity" but that obviously wasn't right 😅

[@ParasocialCatgirl]

*unanimity Unanimity is when everyone must agree, and a single dissent is enough to shut something down. An 'absolute majority' is 'a majority of _all_ electors'. Suppose there's a vote on something and 70% of the votes are in favour of it, but turnout was only 60%. The result might be a majority in favour (most of the votes were for it), but it's not an absolute majority - as, once we factor in the 40% of the total electorate who didn't vote, only 42% of the electorate casted a vote in favour (70% of the 60% whom voted) --- But anyway I honestly agree with your point.

[@qdaniele97]

@@ParasocialCatgirl ops, you are right. I got confused translating it to in may head 😅

[@Wendeta-hq2cp]

That sounds like federalism. No thanks.

[@CB-mf8xf]

This autocrat got popular by taking to Budapest's independence square and protest against Russian occupation in 1989. 35 years later he has become a Soviet-style socialist autocrat that would apparently prefer to have Russia as its neighbor. Every day innocent Ukrainians are dying because this dude is blocking crucial military aid. Orban is commiting his own kind of war crimes.

[@andreasottohansen7338]

Orban is just one of many in history that end up in a full circle revolution. Absolutely shameful

[@andreasottohansen7338]

@@Anothertakeonthis maybe not black and white, but black and gray for certain.

[@iambicpentakill]

@@Anothertakeonthis One country is straight up murdering the other country's civilians, but nice try

[@Max-ts1jx]

Hungary should just be kicked out of the EU at this point. They only serve to weigh it down.

[@sportkonyha]

Wow. Finnaly nobody can threat our perfect democracy with opposite views. and that is a good message, everyone should know his place. Who dare rebell after this?

[@stuartbrand5617]

Blackmail sounds so harsh. Think of it as potty training for adults.

[@laurencekittle1932]

didn't expect to see a tf2 reference on here of all places but not complaining about it 😅

[@hansvader4864]

Scholz telling Orban to get out of the room is the single best thing this man ever did, and will do, in his life.

[@markdowding5737]

Is shameful that Hungary has been trying so hard to blackmail the EU into concessions. Who do they think they are? Turkey?

[@juditmogyorosi2438]

USA wants a big war against Russia on european people's money. EU buys expensive oil and gas from USA every day. USA buys cheap oil and gas and nuclear heating items from Russia every day. Hungary buys cheap oil and gas and nuclear products from Russia every day. Who is the mentally-handicapped idiot in this business "game" ???? 🤔 ... Well, not Viktor ORBAN & Hungary 😁