Hungarian Politics

[Tamas]

Very predictably I guess, news on Belarus was minimal in the Hungarian state TV. In their newsblock yesterday it was the 5th item and they spent about 30 seconds on it, after 4.5 minutes of Corona and Russian vaccine, 3.5 minutes of mass migration everyhwere omg, 2.5 minutes of Chicago riots, and 0.5 minute of shooting in DC.

The footage used for the quick news was 3-4 riot police helplessly being surrounded by an angry crowd on some sidewalk when they tried to arrest somebody. 

[Syt]

German paper Die Zeit reports on Hungary signing a billion dollar deal with the US for missile systems. For some reason they call Hungary "former Soviet Republic", though. Twice!

[Tamas]

Orban, sorry, I mean Attila Peterfalvi, the leader of the "independent" Data Protection Authority has started his rumblings against social media, and how they should stop blocking accounts of Hungarians, and how data of Hungarian citizens should only be stored in Hungary.

It is quite clearly the first gentle step toward controlling social media Turkey/Russia style. It is going to be a multiple years process of boiling a live frog, like with everything else. I was just reading an interview with this Peterfalvi guy and this dance of him "not caring about politics" etc dance of "just doing my job" is so tiring.

There he was, rallying against profile locks (couldn't name a single example though) while dismissing the examples by the journalist, that already have been a couple of cases during the pandemic emergency that people were arrested for Facebook comments. (Also there was a guy who called some local Fidesz dignitary "dick" on FB and got a three year suspended prison sentence for it).

It is especially tiring because nobody really cares at this stage, and by the time they start caring it will be way too late. And this is despite the same dance happening with every platform of free speech in the country.

[Sheilbh]

In fairness this may just be because of the recent CJEU judgment on data transfers to the US (which was against Facebook):
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-53418898

And most of the social media companies are mainly regulated by the Irish data protection regulator (which is, arguably, an issue) so it's not necessarily something the Hungarian regulator could do anything about.

There's a lot of concern across multiple European regulators about the social media companies (rightly) and I think there's growing annoyance that the Irish regulator may be too close to the tech sector in Ireland and, also, that they just don't have the resources to actually effectively regulate these entities. I think Amazon is in Luxembourg, but the Irish data protection regulator (with 200 employees) is the lead authority for regulating Facebook, Google and Apple use of data across the EU which is potentially problematic.

Edit: In fairness the French regulator have taken the lead in basically ignoring that and saying that for x, y and z reason's the Irish regulator shouldn't have jurisdiction so France will do their own thing

[Tamas]

In fairness this may just be because of the recent CJEU judgment on data transfers to the US (which was against Facebook):
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-53418898

And most of the social media companies are mainly regulated by the Irish data protection regulator (which is, arguably, an issue) so it's not necessarily something the Hungarian regulator could do anything about.

There's a lot of concern across multiple European regulators about the social media companies (rightly) and I think there's growing annoyance that the Irish regulator may be too close to the tech sector in Ireland and, also, that they just don't have the resources to actually effectively regulate these entities. I think Amazon is in Luxembourg, but the Irish data protection regulator (with 200 employees) is the lead authority for regulating Facebook, Google and Apple use of data across the EU which is potentially problematic.

Edit: In fairness the French regulator have taken the lead in basically ignoring that and saying that for x, y and z reason's the Irish regulator shouldn't have jurisdiction so France will do their own thing

Sure, but I guarantee you this will be used to further their agenda. Especially since, as you point out, it's not like they can do anything about the nominal issue. But there can be a lot of convenient legislation passed under its pretence

[Tamas]

In 2019, as part of an international investigation, the Peruvian ambassador of Hungary was arrested in Peru, after police found 19 THOUSAND images of child pornography on his computer.

He was shipped home by the Hungarian police to face trial.

Whic has just concluded. He is getting 1 year in prison suspended for three years, following his admission of guilt. 

His lawyer pointed out that ex-ambassador, Gabor Kaletta, is a "deeply religious, practicing Christian" who "led an exemplary life of an attorney". Kaletta himself also pointed out the plight of his fate as he lost 60 pounds and his family has been harassed by anonymous phone calls.

The poor guy, such a victim.


Apparently the judge said that since the prosecution asked for this suspended sentence in case of admission, he cannot give a harsher one. Also he said the court agreed with the prosecution that considering the extenuating (must be his Church-going nature) and aggravating circumstances they found no need for that harsher sentence.

Remember this pedo ambassador with the 19 thousand images on his PC? He got 1 year in prison suspended for 3 years.


A guy with no previous record who threw 2 (two) eggs toward the riot police during some 2018 protests got a sentence of 1 year and 4 months suspended for 2 years for it.

And this is an EU member country.

[Valmy]

I don't know why the EU tolerates these dictatorships. It is EU money they props them up and I thought the EU was supposed to be about spreading Liberal Democracy not crushing it.

[Tamas]

I don't know why the EU tolerates these dictatorships. It is EU money they props them up and I thought the EU was supposed to be about spreading Liberal Democracy not crushing it.

Totally, if EU funds got removed they would topple in a few years. They work in the classical feudalistic way of having to have a constant stream of gifts and perks toward retainers and that is mostly financed from EU grants at the moment.

[Sheilbh]

I don't know why the EU tolerates these dictatorships. It is EU money they props them up and I thought the EU was supposed to be about spreading Liberal Democracy not crushing it.

I mean the European People's Party (the broad pro-European centre-right "family" of parties) haven't even kicked Fidesz out, far less action against Hungary.

The EPP includes the CDU-CSU, the Republicans in France, PP. From what I've read the CSU actually has a very close relationship with Fidesz (plus economic links between Bavaria and Hungary are particularly strong). Not sure how much of a factor that is within the EPP but it's incredible that they've not taken any action.

Totally, if EU funds got removed they would topple in a few years. They work in the classical feudalistic way of having to have a constant stream of gifts and perks toward retainers and that is mostly financed from EU grants at the moment.

That feudal point is also not a million miles from that Bulgarian anti-corruption politicians comment on the EU relationship with Hungary, Bulgaria etc: "It's a very typical thing: An empire is at its point of eclipse when it allows its border policy to be handled by local warlords."

Incidentally would recommend The Light that Failed. Very interesting so far.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

I don't know why the EU tolerates these dictatorships. It is EU money they props them up and I thought the EU was supposed to be about spreading Liberal Democracy not crushing it.

why would they? there's a country with political prisoners too.

[Valmy]

I don't know why the EU tolerates these dictatorships. It is EU money they props them up and I thought the EU was supposed to be about spreading Liberal Democracy not crushing it.

why would they? there's a country with political prisoners too.

For the reasons I just listed

There is the tax payer going just to pay for a corrupt incompetent autocratic government and then there is the whole idea that this was supposed to be about preserving peace, prosperity, and proper European values.

I mean Hungary has been at this for a long time now. It is not like there is any expectation the situation will change at some point in the future.

[The Brain]

Why does America tolerate the GOP? It's just one of those things.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

I don't know why the EU tolerates these dictatorships. It is EU money they props them up and I thought the EU was supposed to be about spreading Liberal Democracy not crushing it.

why would they? there's a country with political prisoners too.

For the reasons I just listed

There is the tax payer going just to pay for a corrupt incompetent autocratic government and then there is the whole idea that this was supposed to be about preserving peace, prosperity, and proper European values.

I mean Hungary has been at this for a long time now. It is not like there is any expectation the situation will change at some point in the future.

don't be naive. The EU is about power and money. The rest is windowdressing to fool the subjects

[Valmy]

don't be naive. The EU is about power and money. The rest is windowdressing to fool the subjects

Well everything is about power and money at least a little bit, but organizations still have interests. The money is supposed to be developing these poorer places so they can make more money there and have democratic accountable governments because they want rule of law so that money can be protected. Those interests go right along with what I am saying. Even from a strictly power and money point of view just proping up incompetent corrupt nationalist governments is against their interests...long term. There is probably some other interests at work though. Right now it just looks like they are investing expecting a zero percent return, which is an odd strategy if you want power and money.

Don't be so cynical that you loose common sense and basic intelligence and just because you see boogeymen everywhere.

[Sheilbh]

Well everything is about power and money at least a little bit, but organizations still have interests. The money is supposed to be developing these poorer places so they can make more money there and have democratic accountable governments because they want rule of law so that money can be protected. Those interests go right along with what I am saying. Even from a strictly power and money point of view just proping up incompetent corrupt nationalist governments is against their interests...long term. There is probably some other interests at work though. Right now it just looks like they are investing expecting a zero percent return, which is an odd strategy if you want power and money.

Don't be so cynical that you loose common sense and basic intelligence and just because you see boogeymen everywhere.

I've mentioned it already but I really recommend The Light that Failed on this.

Edit: and I think it's very relevant for the US right now too.