Rift with Brussels has led to Budapest having €19bn worth of support frozen

Summary

Hungary will lose €1.04 billion in EU funds on January 1, 2025, as disputes with Brussels over corruption and rule of law persist, deepening its recession.

Hungary faces a deepening recession, with with €6.3 billion frozen over rule-of-law concerns, and €200 million lost annually due to daily fines for illegal asylum seeker treatment, alongside a 0.7% economic contraction and a 4.5% budget deficit.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is looking to Chinese investment to offset the €19 billion in blocked EU funds.

While Chinese projects, such as a battery plant, have increased, experts doubt they can replace the scale of EU funding.

  • arc@lemm.eeEnglish
    5·
    1 day ago

    Watch as Orban kisses Putin & Trump’s ass in an effort to stay relevant.

    • Pilferjinx@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      1 day ago

      That’s what he’s been doing and it hasn’t been working out great for Hungary. Everyone knows he’s a piece of shit Russian puppet meant to destabilize the EU as much as possible.

  • Buffalox@lemmy.worldEnglish
    981·
    3 days ago

    Why don’t they just exit EU, and become part of Russian federation instead? That’s apparently what they want. Although I have no idea why anyone would seriously want that?
    But EU is not preventing them from doing what they really want, if they want to leave EU they can. Unlike if they were part of the Russian federation.
    What you can’t do is to work against basic principles of the EU, and then expect EU to support that.
    I have no idea how it’s in any way debatable for Hungary which side they should be on?

    • TheEighthDoctor@lemmy.worldEnglish
      8·
      2 days ago

      It’s so stupid that the EU doesn’t have a mechanism to kick out members, wtf were they thinking when they made the rules?!

      • elucubra@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        4·
        2 days ago

        Because it could be used the other way. I agree that the Hungarian question is shit, but imagine a majority of countries deciding to kick a country out because opposition to some regulation , like fracking or immigration,or whatever, which is objectively good.

        Also, what Orban is doing is as a govrnment. The majority could change, and we’d have punished a country because of a single government. It’s a really difficult thing.

    • wewbull@feddit.ukEnglish
      403·
      3 days ago

      Hungary has profited from being an EU member and I think any politician facing a fair election would do badly saying they should leave.

      What you’re saying characterizes Orban, but not the Hungarian people IMHO.

      • Buffalox@lemmy.worldEnglish
        332·
        3 days ago

        What you’re saying characterizes Orban, but not the Hungarian people IMHO.

        OK why didn’t they replace him in 2022 then? And get Hungary back on a road to progress and prosperity? Instead they doubled down after Orban had shown his true colors.

          • Buffalox@lemmy.worldEnglish
            51·
            3 days ago

            Then that needs to be changed, the country will be fucked up until it’s fixed.

            • atzanteol@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
              4·
              3 days ago

              For sure - it’s a bad situation all around. Hungary is not a democracy, it’s an oligarchy masquerading as a democracy.

        • theUwUhugger@lemmy.worldEnglish
          18·
          3 days ago

          We would kinda need to have a revolution to remove him, he gerrymandered the country so bad that he got 75% mandate from only 38% of the votes! Which we kinda fantasy about in our wet dreams, but there is just no one to lead it… Viktor pretty much bought everyone!

          • Buffalox@lemmy.worldEnglish
            32·
            3 days ago

            We would kinda need to have a revolution to remove him,

            So people know this, but don’t care enough to restore democracy? It sucks, but until something is done, it won’t get any better.
            People should not accept an anti democratic grab of power, if they do, things will only get worse.

              • Buffalox@lemmy.worldEnglish
                14·
                3 days ago

                Have you done ANYTHING? Like go to fora and try to ask if there are people trying to change things you can join?
                I’m not saying it’s easy or simple, it’s a pain in the ass, but I doubt it’s like Belarus and Russia where they use military and shoot demonstrators to keep the people in check.
                For every year you fail to restore democracy, you probably lose both freedom opportunities and get lower living standards compared to if democracy and relations to EU are restored.

                • theUwUhugger@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  2·
                  2 days ago

                  I vote for the best chance in opposition (regardless of my commie opinions) and I illegally volunteer for them (I am a soldier)

        • FelixCress@lemmy.worldEnglish
          175·
          3 days ago

          OK why didn’t they replace him in 2022 then?

          This. People are responsible for the consequences of their actions.

        • wewbull@feddit.ukEnglish
          4·
          2 days ago

          Part of my point. You can’t characterise the Hungarian people by Orban’s actions because he’s not answerable to the people.

      • corsicanguppy@lemmy.caEnglish
        193·
        3 days ago

        any politician facing a fair election would do badly saying they should leave.

        We just had an American election where people voted for much worse. It’s hard to underestimate voters right now.

    • Phoenixz@lemmy.caEnglish
      8·
      3 days ago

      Pretty sure Putin wants him in Europe still so that he can continue to destabilize the federation

    • CosmoNova@lemmy.worldEnglish
      13·
      3 days ago

      Because they profit from it in several ways. Leaving the EU would completely expose Orban to the likes of Putin and Xi with little to no bargain chip. He needs something his country could theoretically turn back to when relationships go sour and go sour they will if things degress the way they do in these countries.

      • Buffalox@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        3 days ago

        Because they profit from it in several ways.

        But they don’t, that’s the point, they are merely souring their relations in EU, and prevent European and other companies from investing there, because Orban is creating doubt about the country.
        The one thing companies prefer above all else, is predictability, and Orban is ruining that completely.

    • Zement@feddit.nlEnglish
      7·
      3 days ago

      They don’t want anything. It’s a deeply corrupt oligarch minority rule utilizing the rural low educated and propaganda. Same same…

  • Phoenixz@lemmy.caEnglish
    36·
    3 days ago

    Fucking dictators selling out their countries to China for a quick buck, totally won’t backfire ten - twenty years from now.

    • Dremor@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      They don’t care, it won’t affect them as all their money are hidden far out of reach.

  • bean@lemmy.worldEnglish
    47·
    3 days ago

    I mean, leopards eating faces. He gets what he wants which is friction with the EU. I’m tired of him. Hungarians need to step it up. They’re amazing people (history and food too) who have a horrible mini-tyrant and seem to be budding up to Russia (cheap gas? Or why?).

  • FelixCress@lemmy.worldEnglish
    321·
    3 days ago

    Good. Hungary should be suspended in their EU voting rights as well. Until and unless they remove Russian shills from power.