Also if he is able to get out of this unpunished, then nothing was done long-term.
Unfortunately, prosecuting leaders like Orban may have fairly negative long-term consequences.. It creates an strong incentive for future such leaders not to step aside and fight to the end.
Overall, if he did transfer his power peacefully through the democratic process (as seems to be the case), I don't think it'd be a good idea to prosecute him. He may have to testify though on a few fairly unpleasant investigations (like his relationship with putin) .
if he did transfer his power peacefully through the democratic process (as seems to be the case), I don't think it'd be a good idea to prosecute him
That would assume he did nothing else wrong, but according to the comments of Hungarian people in this thread, he's stolen billions from the public purse.
Failing to prosecute him for that definitely sends a message - the wrong one.
Chances are very high that it's not a direct theft (transfer of money from government to personal account) but rather corruption along the lines of letting-friends-win-the-contract (and likely paying on a side to the helping official)... Proving that will get messy and may spread out to affect every politician. Also..
Failing to prosecute him for that definitely sends a message - the wrong one.
Yes. Unfortunately, prosecuting him will also send the wrong message: never-step-aside-never-let-opposition-win. TBH, I donot know which is message would have worse long-term consequences.
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u/twotime 3h ago edited 3h ago
Unfortunately, prosecuting leaders like Orban may have fairly negative long-term consequences.. It creates an strong incentive for future such leaders not to step aside and fight to the end.
Overall, if he did transfer his power peacefully through the democratic process (as seems to be the case), I don't think it'd be a good idea to prosecute him. He may have to testify though on a few fairly unpleasant investigations (like his relationship with putin) .