One question: how can NATO continue to putt up with these two electoral autocraticies, who effectively hold the entire membership to ransom?
And in the case of Hungary in the #EU, how can they have a veto over #Ukraine and #Moldova membership if Hungary fails to abide by EU #law and #rules itself? Surely their veto should be suspended.
And some food for thought from Victoria #Amelina 💔, the smashing talent of a Ukranian writer who died following #Russia 's attack of #Kramatorsk this week (something i always struggled to explain to people who were not born in Central Europe - she captured it so well):
"We were Europeans under attack, but it was mainly our problem.
In November #1956 , the director of the #Hungarian news agency sent a message via telex to the world, shortly before Russian artillery wrecked his office. " (cont.)
'It read: “We are going to die for #Hungary and for #Europe .”
The #Czech writer Milan #Kundera started his 1984 essay The Tragedy of Central Europe with this message. As one of the leading figures of the #1968#Prague Spring, Kundera understood what the brave #Hungarian had meant by dying for Europe. As a #Ukrainian writer in Kyiv in 2022, I can’t stop thinking about Kundera, writing in exile after the Prague Spring failed. ' (cont.)
"We, Central Europeans, are ready to fight for #Europe , even if at times our love may be unrequited.
Europe didn’t come to #Hungary’s rescue. Nor did it come to the #Czechs’ rescue, or the #Ukrainians’ in 2014. If being a Central European means being betrayed by Europe, #Ukraine is certainly a member of the club."
Not sure the panel recording will be public, so here are my notes in a long 🧵 thread:
▶️ The DSA is rather good at respecting #freedom of expression, it gives platforms some new tools to carefully consider and improve their moderation practices and users to defend their rights. [1/8]
...demanded for in the EU’s #MediaFreedomAct#EMFA are not going to help. They are setting dangerous precedents for a two-tier #moderation system that is going to benefit some very prolific producers of disinformation and hatred online: Think #CNews in #France, the #DailyMail in the #UK, or any state-affiliated outlet in #Hungary and #Poland. There's a reason why even temporary ‘must carry’ obligations have been rejected in the #DSA and they should absolutely not be added to #EMFA. [4/8]
Hungary, 1934. A shoeshine man, perhaps. Certainly someone poor and down-trodden, eking out a living on the street. The famous Hungarian poet of this time, Attila József, wrote in his poem, "Without Hope",
I am as one who comes to rest
by that sad, sandy, sodden shore
and looks around, and undistressed
nods his wise head, and hopes no more.
I just bought a new book! A herbarium of plants in Hungarian Roma folklore. 🥰🌿🌳🌼 Published by the Association of 21st Century Roman Women. I have the bestiary of the same series, it's pretty great. And cites the folklore sources at the end.
Let's celebrate our time together, or apart, in the sparkling City of Budapest, and make our little community together. With good stories, experiences, shared memories and helping one another remember the great times, we will build the best Budapest social on the web. All are welcome on /m/Budapest. Please, come join me in our...
Budapest, 1936. There is a sadness about this older boy selling flowers on the esplanade that runs alongside the Danube on the Pest side. No doubt poverty drove him to it. Life was hard for many at this time and the next 10 or so years wouldn't be any better, in fact much worse for many.
Von der Leyen replies to Hungary and Poland: Migration reform will be done by 'qualified majority'
The European Union is in the midst of reforming the common rules that govern the reception and relocation of asylum seekers.
Ursula von der Leyen on Monday made it clear to Poland and Hungary that decisions over the bloc's migration policy are to be taken by qualified majority, mere days after the two countries hijacked a leaders' summit to protest a proposed reform and demand voting by unanimity.
"That's what the treaties say and that's what we have delivered on," the European Commission president said during an official visit to Madrid.
Szabadszentkirály, 1954. For today's dip into the Foretpan archives, I have chosen this portrait of a fine looking Hungarian farmer from a small village in south-west Hungary. I imagine he would have been called something like Józsi bácsi (Uncle Joe). Not doubt he has seen a lot over the years.
Hungary, 1939. Egészségedre! Cheers! Tasting some of the famed Tokaji wines. "Wine of Kings, King of Wines" as anyone and everyone in Hungary will tell you. You kinda wish they looked like were enjoying themselves a bit more though!
For those of you interested in #UrbanDecay and #UrbanExploration and post-apocalyptic post-Soviet landscapes, I highly recommend the International Trade Center in Miskolc 😄 The sign says they are open for fashion shows and other events...
The Office of the President of Ukraine has responded to the latest statements by the Prime Minister of Hungary by questioning his subjectivity, saying that Viktor Orbán was dragging his country’s reputation through the historical mud.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban today called the decision made by the European Union in the summer to refrain from granting Georgia candidate status “discriminatory”. Orban stated at a briefing held in Hungary together with the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, that this decision cannot be morally...
https://t.me/United24media/10942⛔️🇭🇺Stolen Ukrainian children and Russian led genocide are A-OK in Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his opinion, is not a war criminal. Ukraine, according to the head of the Hungarian government, "is no longer a sovereign state, the achievement of peace depends on the United States." He also said that "the EU has not succeeded (more) #Ukraine#NATO#Press#Russia#RussiaUkraineWar#9yearsOfWarInUkraine#WantedDeadOrAlive
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in an interview with the German newspaper Bild that he does not consider Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal and thinks that Ukraine can no longer be considered a sovereign state.
I wonder who, or rather what, inspired Mr. Orban to draw such conclusions?
Perhaps the record gas discounts that Russia is now offering its allies?
The French and German ministers of state for Europe, Laurence Boone and Anna Lührmann, emphasised in an exclusive interview with EURACTIV that the two countries are confident that partial institutional reform of the EU will be possible within this year.
https://t.me/United24media/10898 #Article7HungaryOutOfEU #HungaryOutOfTheEU #HungaryOutOfNATO
⛔️🇭🇺Hungary has again blocked a 500 million euro tranche of EU military aid to Ukraine. As reported by Reuters with reference to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Szijarto, this decision was made due to the inclusion in Ukraine of the Hungarian OTP Bank in the list of international sponsors of the war.
Budapest will unblock the tranche if the bank is delisted, Szijarto said. #Ukraine#NATO#Press#News#Russia
New: It is reported that the Wagnerians broke through the barricades on their way to #Moscow.
The governor of the Lipetsk region confirmed that the columns of Wagner PMCs are already in the region
Around 15:00 Moscow time, it became known that the militants had passed Yelets. It is 340 km from Moscow. The rebels can enter the capital by 19:00 Moscow time.
The thug oligarchs Potanin, Manturov, Rotenberg and presumably the younger Kovalchuk could have flown out of Russia amid the mutiny.
Dictator Putin plans to eliminate Prigozhin and promise amnesty to Wagner militants.
The leadership of the Russian Federation is discussing the possibility of recognizing "Wagner" as an extremist and terrorist organization.
Russian Telegram channels are spreading video of the alleged Wagner PMC disarming the first Akhmat fighters.
3/
▪️Facts about Russia.. First, this is a mob war, not a coup. All involved are brutal thugs..Murder, Inc. All black hats.
▪️Second, although it is an internal fight, I think there has to be concerned about the spillover into Belarus or NATO countries, like Hungary.
▪️ Putin is a wanted war criminal by the Hague for war crimes and genocide in Ukraine.
▪️Feb 2021, the #FBI announced it was seeking to arrest #Prigozhin on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud the US, for INTERFERING in U.S. domestic politics & attempting to influence a presidential election, offering a CASH REWARD of up to $250,000 for info that could lead to his arrest.
▪️Both thugs, killers have arrested warrants out for their arrest.
▪️Prigozhin and the Wagner militia are part and parcel of Putin’s mob-state Kleptocracy.
▪️President Biden should talk w/ #NATO for SITREP in #Hungary, #Poland and other countries, & Intel briefings on #Belarus.
▪️Completely shut off money going into Russia. Remember, no good guys in terrorist state russia.
Welcome to /m/Budapest Social
Let's celebrate our time together, or apart, in the sparkling City of Budapest, and make our little community together. With good stories, experiences, shared memories and helping one another remember the great times, we will build the best Budapest social on the web. All are welcome on /m/Budapest. Please, come join me in our...
President's Office responds to Orbán's statements: He's dragging Hungary's reputation through the mud (www.pravda.com.ua)
The Office of the President of Ukraine has responded to the latest statements by the Prime Minister of Hungary by questioning his subjectivity, saying that Viktor Orbán was dragging his country’s reputation through the historical mud.
Hungarian PM: Decision Not to Grant Georgia EU Candidate Status was Discriminatory - Georgia Today (georgiatoday.ge)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban today called the decision made by the European Union in the summer to refrain from granting Georgia candidate status “discriminatory”. Orban stated at a briefing held in Hungary together with the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, that this decision cannot be morally...
EU reform: France, Germany confident on reaching agreement this year (www.euractiv.com)
The French and German ministers of state for Europe, Laurence Boone and Anna Lührmann, emphasised in an exclusive interview with EURACTIV that the two countries are confident that partial institutional reform of the EU will be possible within this year.
A Critique of Austrian administration in Bosnia (Debate about the 1910 budget) (www.booksofjeremiah.com)
Parliamentary budget debates would be so much better if you had satirists lampooning the budgets during debates. People might even tune in.