Hungary, a country that represents barely 2% of the population of the European Union (EU), has just vetoed additional funding of 50 billion euros to Ukraine. The other 26 EU countries are all in favor of this military aid. As a bonus, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a friend of Vladimir Putin, announced that he could prevent Ukraine from joining the EU at any time. Orban wants money in exchange for a favorable vote from his country. This is because the European EU has blocked money transfers to Hungary due to several anti-democratic measures put in place by Orban. Beyond the blackmail of Hungary, Orban’s maneuvers pose the recurring problem of the viability of the EU in its current structures. They show, if necessary, the fragility of democracies which suffer from incessant attacks by dictatorships.
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1) How do democracies suffer the attacks of dictatorships?
Dictatorships have never liked democracies. But until the advent of the internet and social networks, they had few means to attack public opinion in democracies. Previously, small political groups like the Maoists and other communist parties served as a transmission belt to China or Russia. Thanks to social networks, the propaganda of these dictatorships reaches voters in democratic countries much more easily. It is taken up, repeated and amplified by people of good faith, but without any real understanding of politics.
2) What are the political measures criticized by Orban?
Orban controls the education system, state media and the justice system through the appointment of people devoted to him. Orban also amended the Constitution to weaken the electoral process and make it more opaque. Finally, Orban deprived Hungarians of certain individual freedoms that are protected in the rest of the EU.
3) Why does Orban govern like this?
Orban wants to stay in power as long as possible. Anything that weakens the opposition is good for him, including anti-democratic measures.
4) How are the EU’s operating mechanisms bad?
The EU needs the unanimity of its member countries to make important decisions. However, this unanimity takes too long to achieve at crucial moments when rapid decisions must be made. More serious, the permeability of public opinions in member countries as well as the own agendas of each leader pave the way for costly political negotiations. Fortunately for the EU, a slow consensus is emerging around the need to reform its structures to move towards majority decision-making. Furthermore, Emmanuel Macron, who fears the effect of Ukraine’s agricultural power on the EU and on France in particular, warned that the organization’s rules must change before Ukraine’s possible admission.
5) Could Ukraine still receive money from the EU?
EU leaders, including Orban, are aware of the threat from Putin’s Russia. Orban is playing a dangerous game. This is because Ukraine, which for the moment is deprived of financial support from the United States and Europe, could back down. Russia would then risk winning decisive victories in the coming months. Ultimately, all of Europe would be threatened. This is why EU leaders are already trying to finance Ukraine without going through the EU, that is, by going directly to the treasuries of each member state.