Hungary's prime minister stole the country's democracy. Now Hungarians are rising up.

[applegrove]

By Zack Beauchamp at Vox

https://www.vox.com/world/2018/12/17/18144648/hungary-protest-orban-labor-democracy

"SNIP.....

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has effectively dismantled his country’s democracy. His Fidesz party has altered the electoral system to make an opposition victory nearly impossible, dismantled the independence of the courts, and turned roughly 90 percent of the country’s media outlets into mouthpieces for the government’s populist, anti-immigrant rhetoric.

After the April 2018 election, in which Fidesz won less than 50 percent of the popular vote but two-thirds of seats in Parliament, it seemed that there was little optimism that the country could be wrested from his grasp.

But in the past week, something genuinely hopeful happened: Thousands of protesters began taking to the streets of Budapest in sustained anti-government demonstrations. Backed by the major anti-Orbán opposition parties, the protests, which began Wednesday, have featured signs with slogans like “all I want for Xmas is democracy” and chants against state-run media (“the TV is lying!”)

.......

This is a serious threat to Hungarian “soft fascism,” as I’ve termed Orbán’s model of government, but not yet an existential one. The protestors aren’t yet a unified movement with a long-term strategy, nor are there enough of them: The largest demonstration so far attracted an estimated 15,000 people in a nation of around 10 million.



.....SNIP"

[pangaia]

1. Being Magyar, I hope they succeed.

It is truly sad what has been happening in the country of my grandfather...

[sakabatou]

2. I hope the people of Hungary can get rid of Orbn

[smirkymonkey]

3. Resist!

I am glad to see that there are some Hungarians who are not going along with Orban's fascism willingly.

[moonscape]

4. Last year a friend went to Budapest and I

connected them with a cousin. My father was Hungarian, my parents emigrating to the US at the end of WWII. My cousin went to an ivy league med school in the US and could have practiced here but decided to return to Hungary for cultural reasons. "In Hungary I know art, literature, and am an educated person ..." - her English was impeccable but she longed for her native tongue.

Anyway, my friend returned with the dismaying news that my cousin was a supporter of Orban (and 45) because 'they are strong.' Really.

But then again, she was the one who told me the pollution hanging over Budapest was 'fog' - so definitely some myopia going on ...

[applegrove]

5. I know. The most level headed rns I know who are recent immigrants

to Canada both support(ed) government/leaders back in the old country that scare the hell out of me. I tell myself I don't know what it is like to grow up in an unstable place..so not to judge. But I can't help feeling afraid the world is heading back in time.

[pecosbob]

6. Hopefully this time around there's no Russian tanks

Last edited Tue Dec 18, 2018, 12:59 AM - Edit history (1)