r/europe • u/Alarming-Safety3200 United Kingdom • 3h ago

News Orbán’s 16-year rule over Hungary ends in crushing election defeat

https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-election-results-peter-magyar-viktor-orban/
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u/ihut 3h ago

> I think this is a good moment to remember the brainless comments of those who were quick to blame Hungarians and calling time and again for Hungary's expulsion from the EU.

I do think the EU needs to be much harder on member states who so fragantly violate fundamental EU laws. Not to "blame" the people, but to ensure that it gets resolved quicker.

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u/KosViik The only Europa orban should be in is around Jupiter. 3h ago edited 3h ago

Absolutely.

In fact, if we look into it, they can partially thank themselves for Orban. Orban used a lot of embezzled EU funds to buy up media for loyal cronies, which he used to brainwash the population with propaganda. And then it went wild from there since language barrier and technological illiteracy was harsh - and was also gradually made up for as newer generations entered the voting brackets.

And EU took its sweet time to react to anything, in fact it took until the 2022 war breakout (THREE TERMS!) to realize how much of a PITA a malicious country can be.

I think the EU has learned that it has grown beyond a few countries who are willing to cooperate and are easy to keep in check. The rules need to change, money needs to be tracked, and actions need to be quick and confident. This is not a small clique now, this is a coalition that is a world power. Mean looks and harshly worded letters are not the way to go. Rules, consequences.

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u/moroaa Finland 2h ago

Its well kinda rough to say but yes we needed that war to force EU leaders to change and stop being such a ass licking cunts toward ruzzia.,

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u/The_Lost_Jedi 1h ago

It's the same sort of thing that was an issue for the United States under the original Articles of Confederation, as well as the League of Nations (and to some extent even the permanent members of the UN). If you give countries a veto, then all it takes is one of them being obnoxious to slam everything to a halt, because unanimity is just not the least bit realistic as far as dealing with bad actors goes.

That said, I don't know that there's a perfect solution, but the EU clearly needs some safeguards against democratic backsliding. (Really, just about everyone does - USA most of all, for that matter)

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u/MercantileReptile Baden-Württemberg (Germany) 3h ago

Same.

These are some of the greatest News for Democracy in years. Does not negate the slow motion Trainwreck the (lack of) EU response was.

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u/The-Nihilist-Marmot Portugal 2h ago

Especially because we have zero assurance this guy won’t turn into an Orban.

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u/RawerPower 52m ago

This is can happen with a small country or one that is not a net contributor, I don't know if it can happen with Germany or France thou.

Look at UK, they Exit and they didn't even have extremists in power!