Eastern European Politics

Sweltering temperatures continue across Poland

Poland's new president aims for more ties with Poles abroad

Well, he pulled a major Refuge in Audacity moment back in 1989, when he held a strongly anti-communist speech during the anniversary ceremony of the 1956 uprising. From what I hear, everyone was like "that stupid idiot just signed his own death warrant". Yet the crowd ended up agreeing with him and a few months later, the communist government peacefully transitioned into a democratic one.

It's telling that, to this day, Orbán's core voter base are the generation who heard that speech live. He was in his twenties back then, nervous that he'd mess up the speech; now he's a wannabe dictator (or, as some put it, Viktator) whose success went to his head, still thinking of himself as a revolutionary.

Now consider that the lion's share of Jobbik's own voter base are the current teens and twenty-somethings. It's blatantly obvious to me that a major generation change is imminent.

Seems to be the case all over the world. The Cold War generation is either gone or about to retire, while the post-Cold War generation is now entrenched in world governance but ain't getting any younger. Give it five to ten years, broadly. More specific depending on the country.

It worries me a fair bit. We're talking about people whose information comes mostly from populists, liars and populist liars. Lots of pointless hate for immigrants and Muslims there. Also, lots of pointless whining and throwing toys out of the pram with little to no provocation.

Govt wants to make illegal crossing of the border punishable by up to 3-4 years of imprisonment, coupled with sending several thousand cops to the border and forming "border hunt" companies. They want the Fidesz-KDNP fraction to call the assembly together and vote on it as fast as possible, preferably before the month's end.

The reasoning being that human smugglers are not merely transporting migrants here but also teach them how to abuse their refugee status. The stated intention is to force human smugglers to alter their routes and go elsewhere, as the country is currently "under human smuggler attack".

That is actually quite reasonable.

Also, the lieutenant colonel in charge of the military detachment building the border fence reported to the media yesterday that seventy kilometers of barbed wire is in the ground now.

The border fence is actually two-layered, consisting of a rapidly installed barbed wire obstacle (with August 31 set as the completion deadline) and the actual three-meter barrier fence (slated to be completed by November), with a gate every two kilometers. Also, a decision has been made to extend the barbed wire over the waterways as well.

... I feel sorry for deer, otters and voles.

Biodiversity in Europe was already shite anyways...

Huh. The fence segment I reported as complete yesterday? The mayor of one of the border towns in the involved area claims that the ministry and the police are both lying about the fence being completed. He says that of the 20-25 kilometers of border near his town, only 1-2 kilometers of fence actually stands and over half of the border is missing the barbed wire as well.

He even uploaded photographic proof to his Facebook page.

edited 19th Aug '15 7:44:44 AM by amitakartok

Wow, such fence. Much security.

Seriously, that kind of crap takes time. But I guess the government wants credit for it now.

Excellent news for the migrants/refugees.

Just heard in the news that the US army is shipping fifty armored vehicles, including tanks, to Hungary, as part of their ongoing response to the clusterfuck in Ukraine.

And to think Orbán's gang has been going for a policy of "eastern opening", including forging closer economic ties with Russia... whatever is going on, Putin's not gonna be happy when he hears this. At the same time, Obama wrote a letter to president Áder, expressing his good wishes to the Hungarian people due to tomorrow being the 1120th anniversary of Hungary's foundation and stressing the importance of upholding the values of democracy.

edited 19th Aug '15 9:54:33 AM by amitakartok

Why would Putin care? The Kremlin knows that the Balkan countries cannot be counted on. As long as Hungary honors the business deals, it is okay.

Because Hungary receives a helluva lot of Russian money for stuff like expanding the local nuclear power plant - then Hungary promptly turns around and aids the enemy's military movements? Sounds like a scam.

I know Hungary is a member of NATO and therefore the US' military ally, but I still find it unlikely the Kremlin will let this slide.

edited 19th Aug '15 10:22:06 AM by amitakartok

That money was for Rosatom's order in Hungary. Unless Hungary misuses the money for something else, there will be no trouble.

As weird as it will be for me to say, Paul is right. Wait and see what happens, don't jump to conclusions. Russia only ever reacts negatively when the nation in question is actively anti-Russian, like the Baltics. They don't punish the Bulgarians or the Greeks when they vote against Russian interests because they have good relations with Moscow to balance it out. Same will hold for Hungary unless Orban does something foolish.

Also, our mistakenly elected piss-poor excuse for a president stated that his campaign promises weren't his campaign promises and it's not his fault that the government doesn't want to introduce them.

I mean, seriously. He has a legislative initiative, he can draft up a bill and pass it to the Sejm to make it into an act. And instead, he goes bitching about the ministries not wanting to do it for him. He's either cynical or dumber than a sack of hammers.

Being able to call the shots doesn't mean anything if the rest of your cabinet has the power to depose you via a vote of no confidence if you do something they don't agree with. In the end, all elected officials are just puppets for their political party - and politics is one of the most cutthroat fields on the planet.

Are you absolutely sure it's his fault and not his party's?

edited 19th Aug '15 2:12:53 PM by amitakartok

His party isn't in power yet and I honestly hope it's never gonna be again. We made that mistake once, had a very paranoid half-term (because the idiots wanted even more power, called an early election in 2007 and lost it like the schmucks they are), and I really, really hope that people aren't dumb enough to buy their bullshit for a second time.

Slovakia: Only Christian refugees acceptable

Don't have to be in actual power to have influence over the guy you backed.

Unsurprising.

Oh, trust me. The party leader has his hand so deep up the so-called President's ass that you could call Kermit the Frog independent in comparison.

Also, fuck these guys. It's like Jozef Tiso time all over again.

At least they're taking in refugees at all. Save your vitriol for the Baltic states, who think taking 50 people is going to fuck them over forever and ever.

Look. Over here, some right-wing rag made up a supposed Christian refugee from Syria who apparently was appalled and outraged that he got just €250 and an apartment for his family. It's just so obviously, hamfistedly made up that I pity the fools who believe it.

Also, Baltics. I remember my trip to Vilnius some fifteen years ago. Sweet Jesus on a marshmallow, what a pisshole. By Polish standards, and those ARE pretty low.