In the dead of night, after parliament passed “On protecting against the coronavirus” and President János Áder signed it into law after two hours of “hard constitutional scrutiny,” Zsolt Semjén, deputy prime minister, turned in 15 new legislative proposals, none of which had anything to do with the coronavirus pandemic. If it hadn’t been clear before, by this morning it became obvious that Viktor Orbán’s “enabling act” was designed to give the government the freedom to deal with contentious issues without any interference. Most worrisome among the proposals was one that would have taken power away from the municipalities, especially those that had the temerity to vote against Fidesz incumbents last October.
Let’s look at some of the issues that the government wanted to resolve quickly by decree, with no debate inside or outside of parliament. Constructing a “museum quarters” at the expense of Budapest’s City Park (Városliget) was one of them. According to several opinion polls over the years, more than 75% of the inhabitants of the Hungarian capital are against the project. One of the key promises of Gergely Karácsony’s campaign was to stop the erection of those buildings that are still in the design stage. After the election, Orbán “generously” promised that the will of the Budapesters would be honored.
The new City Council, in which the anti-Fidesz forces are in the majority, promptly voted to stop the construction of new structures. The idea of having a single designated area for all important museums was the brainchild of the director of the Museum of Fine Arts, László Baán. From the very beginning of Orbán’s ten-year rule, the prime minister was personally involved in the design of this museum complex. If he didn’t like a building because it was too modern, the enthusiastic servants removed it from the plans. If he thought a church or theater should be added, they obliged. The decree, under the aegis of the “enabling act,” will annul the decision of the City Council. Those buildings, so close to the heart of the prime minister, will be constructed.
The government also found time, in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, to forbid sex changes. If the museums were Orbán’s pet project, transsexuals were the targets of Zsolt Semjén, whose party, he acknowledged, is “the arm of the Catholic Church” in the government. The new decree changes the law on vital records. From here on, the sex of a newborn, based on a medical examination, cannot be changed later. In addition, the government gave a generous gift to the Catholic Church, 29 old-age homes that provide a handsome income to the owners.
The usually well-groomed Zsolt Semjén looks a bit disheveled
Many people who are not familiar with the Hungarian scene will be surprised to read that the government considers the issue of Budapest theaters so important that one of the first decrees will deal with this issue. A struggle over the theaters has been going on ever since 2006, when Fidesz won a majority of the municipalities. Theaters at that point were mostly in the hands of the municipalities, although the central government generously subsidized them. The new Fidesz city councils promptly began replacing theater directors as soon as their terms expired. The reasons for the changes were twofold. One was the more conservative taste of the conservative, right-wing mayors and city fathers. The other was political. As the undemocratic features of the Orbán regime became increasingly obvious, the cunning liberal directors would choose productions that, with even minimum sensibility, could be interpreted as critical of Viktor Orbán’s illiberal regime. Thus, these theaters became irritants to the Fidesz officeholders. And, after “Budapest fell” in October 2019, the government wanted to rein in “rogue” theaters. Prior to the decree, theaters financed jointly by the central government and the municipality were to be overseen by a three-member supervisory board. The new decree raises the number of board members from three to five, and, of the five, three will be appointed by the ministry of human resources, which has an undersecretary responsible for cultural matters. Thus, programming will be in the hands of the central government.
I left to last the decree that was met with outrage and that has since been withdrawn. Claiming greater efficiency, the government created 20 new bodies called “county and capital defense committees” headed by 20 Fidesz politicians, without whose approval mayors of municipalities from the largest to the smallest couldn’t make any decision. The “commissar,” as a friend of mine called the new position, of Budapest would have been Botond Sára, the Fidesz mayor of District VIII, who, after having been defeated in October, removed documents from city hall and prevented his successor from accessing the district’s website.
The decree was designed to, in effect, overturn the results of the October 13, 2019 municipal elections and take away the rights of mayors and city councils to govern without interference from the central government. Even before this decree, Orbán had been draining city governments of power, money, and property. The new decree would have been the final nail in the coffin of local government, the pride of the democratic political restructuring that occurred after 1989-1990. The alleged reason for this change was efficiency when, in fact, such an arrangement would have prevented speedy action in the case of urgent need. The “commissars” would have had five days to respond to the humble requests of the mayors, even though it is the municipal leaders who know what is needed and when.
Well, this decree, according to the calculations of one of the journalists of Magyar Hang, lasted exactly 16 hours and 21 minutes. Having to retreat that fast from a politically ingenious move must have been painful and embarrassing for Viktor Orbán. Those newly elected mayors who would have been hardest hit by this decree claim that their strong and joint opposition made him change his mind. Others claim that even Fidesz mayors found the decree demeaning. I have also heard that some members of the Fidesz parliamentary caucus were taken aback by the decree. However, I don’t quite believe that internal opposition which, as far as I could say, wasn’t that vehement, was the primary reason for the speedy withdrawal of the decree. It is likely that some pressure came from abroad.
Today, the European Commission discussed the Hungarian “enabling act,” so Orbán might have had some intelligence about the atmosphere in that conference room. It is also possible that word reached him about Donald Tusk’s threat that, after the pandemic is over, Fidesz’s departure from the European People’s Party will be discussed. Finally, he might have heard that 13 member states are lined up against Orbán’s decision to rule by decree without a sunset clause. These countries are Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Viktor Orbán can no longer can say that only insignificant little states ganged up against him.
Whatever led to the withdrawal of this particular decree, we know that Orbán rarely gives up. If this decree was deemed too onerous, he is quite capable of substituting for it another one that seems less draconian. And yet another, that further chips away at municipal governance. One way or another, he seems hellbent on, if not overturning, at least muting, the results of the municipal elections.
The boss of the poodle follows with a light version (if you can even say that in the Tsarist dynasty)
https://aif.ru/health/coronavirus/putin_podpisal_zakon_nadelyayushchiy_kabmin_pravom_vvodit_rezhim_chs
Thank you, Éva
Zsolt Semjén proudly has divided his time between being a lackey for Viktor and a foot-soldier for the VM. Now it seems, he has another hero to emulate – none other than the blustering, lying BloJo Johnson.
This is unbelievable and if it weren’t reported by our dear prof Balogh I might call it fake news – it reminds me too much of what Hitler did 83 years ago.
So transgender people are the new Jews …
Sometime in the future even Hungarian people will ask:
Wtf did all these decrees have to do with the problem of Covid 19?
PS:
Is the Hun government doing anything at all to fight against and at least slow down the virus?
PPS:
Of course it would be a historical “Treppenwitz” if one of the infected politicians (Putin, BoJo, …) would be a victim …
Wolfi
The Jews are always on the list and high up too.
The problem is some of them also get mixed up with wannabe dictators like Putin, Trump and Orban – not a wise thing to do in the circumstances.
Re: ‘….what Hitler did 83 years ago’…
Always can learn from that past.
Not there yet but it remains to be seen if a reflection backward as the following could be in the offing of a ‘small’ country now in Europe ..
‘Curiously, when it was all over and a sober reflection could finally replace unbridled emotion , many Germans , now released from the spell, were dumbfounded by what had happened to them. Karl Jaspers summed it up well by confessing that ‘during the past twelve years something has happened to us that seems like remolding of our entire being. To put it in the form of an image: Devils had been raining blows upon us and have swept us away , together with themselves, into a chaos which has robbed us of sight and hearing …We have experienced something like the witchcraft madness of the later Middle Ages’. Nazi Germany, A New History, Klaus P. Fischer, p 345.
Sorry, of course it should have been “87 years ago”.
And since I’m here:
Have we discussed the European Court’s ruling on the non-acceptance of refugees by the West Balkan countries yet?
I have listed the countries making the common statement [acc.year of joining EU]
EU countries making common statement
1957: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands
1973: Denmark, Ireland
1981: Greece
1986: Portugal, Spain, Sweden
1995: Finland
EU countries NOT making the statement
1995: Austria
2004: Cyprus, Czech Rep., Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia
2007: Bulgaria, Romania
2013: Croatia
Former EU countries [which could make a statement]
1973: United Kingdom – left EU 2020.Jan.31
imho the most “odd one out” above is Austria, joined 1995
What do you mean with “common statement”? Thanks.
“13 member states are lined up [with link]”
Eva linked the Netherlands in the post,
here’s Belgium:
https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/newsroom/news/2020/statement_belgium_denmark_finland_france_germany_greece_ireland_italy_luxembourg_netherlands_portugal_spain_sweden
I assume the “common statement” is published on each of the 13 member states government’s websites
Latvia joined
https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/news/latest-news/65791-latvia-together-with-other-eu-member-states-calls-for-the-strengthening-of-the-rule-of-law-and-european-values
Estonia joined
https://vm.ee/en/news/estonia-among-eu-countries-calling-protection-rule-law-democracy-and-fundamental-human-rights
so currently 13+2=15 member EU member states!
and before all that on Mar.27 OV sent a letter to AKK [CDU, the party of Merkel] accusing Donald Tusk of playing domestic political games… read the first page here [for full letter go to politico.eu]
:orig
note: by putting “:orig” behind urls of twitter images, you’ll get the best [original] quality of the image
[doesn’t seem to directly work for links in HS comments]
Hungary joined too.
Orban is trolling the weak, wishy-washy West, making fun of them.
He is saying “you are powerless, I can do whatever I want, and I’m having fun.”
I hope the West will make the EU monies conditional but I guess Orban know that this will never happen (he has good intelligence from Germany), so he can do whatever he wants.
Putin is laughing as is Erdogan.
who’s trolling here?
and “I hope…” reads/sounds/smells as fake as everything else come from “our regular” potential democracy killer…
The social pathology of cloak-and-dagger pocket-fascism speaks again.
No, this is a great opportunity for the EU and the West to show power, to rise to the occasion. They are provoked into using their power against a country whose currency lost 20% in 3 months and which is entirely dependent on EU funds but which acts as if it was important and influential. It’s an act, nothing more. Will they rise to the occasion? I doubt it. As I said being decisive is fundamentally alien to the Western political class.
Remember that Oliver Varhelyi is in Brussels solely to gather intelligence on potential reaction to Orban’s machinations (and on the views of member states on the Balkans) and manipulate top EU people and this move by Orban means that he reported that the Germans and the French are OK, they won’t allow any conditions to the EU monies, Orban can have his party and keep his money too.
That’s all.
hey, yes, yes, again “intelligence”
from our “intelligence” regular..
Ferenc, try to understand that Orban only trusts professional intelligence officers plus he spends a lot of money buying legal intelligence. Why do you think people like Günther Oettinger got a job in Hungary from Orban? He got it as a compensation for approving Paks 2, sure, but also to provide legal intel from his network or friends, former colleagues, party chums etc. He has not other use than his contacts and info he can provide. West Germany used to be the most penetrated Western government by the Soviets and the DDR. I am pretty sure that this is still so (even if the DDR doesn’t exist any more). I can even imagine that even the Hungarians also keep some idiots in the German government on their payroll. But sadly there are many in Germany inside the Government who genuinely like Orban. And whatever Germany does not want (like punishing Orban in any way), will not happen. I would also bet quite lot of money that Varhelyi himself is an intelligence officer. So calm down: autocrats (who are paranoid, but only the paranoid survive, the complacent die out) all over the word love intel people as they are selected for… Read more »
I have to agree with Marty here:
lack of scruples
is the main characteristic of many politicians, especially in Germany. Usually it’s only found out after they’ve retired (or been forced to retire politics …) and get jobs in private industry, banking etc.
The bets or rather worst example here is former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder, a Social Democrat even, who is now Putin’s lackey.
One reason for this might be that he needs lots of money – for his way of life and his girlfriends/wives which he changes probably more often than his underwear.
No Marty – This a great opportunity for you to show something other than your primitive effort to sabotage this blog.
Marty – Aren’t you a little concerned about the prospects for the coming recession? Never mind what it does in the Western EU – these countries can handle it – but you are going to look at similar problems in Hungary and probably also the return of parts of the Hungarian migrant work force. Doesn’t that cause a little concern?
Michael D
Marty is stereotyping and exaggerating as usual, but he made a very valid point in 4.09. re the opportunity to do smth. In fact the EU is now restructuring the cohesion funds to combat the epidemic and its economic consequences. We’ll see what final funding structure will be, but I bet Orbàn’s will oppose direct funding of projects or support payouts to those in need, ie. any payment that is not controlled by him, see like the vociferous slamming of the $ 1 million Soros grant to Budapest city.
Obs. – The opportunity is there, I agree. But how relevant is it to expect an uncompromising reaction by a forum of such different interests?
Probably there will be a tightening of some degree, but I think that staging an almost certain failure to meet high expectations (as I see Marty does) based on black/white premises, is just too speculative for the political world we live in. Realistic chances of a united international siding in the primarily internal Hungarian matters, remain unchanged.
If one prefers to interpret that as a total victory for the anti-democratic Hungarian trend, or a total failure of EU-democracy, there is, for all we know, freedom to do so.
2008 financial crisis that started in US, EU was most affected. World started to recover in late 2009. EU economy started recovering in 2013. Arab spring started in 2011, with CIA hijacking it for regime change purposes. Most of the fallout was suffered by EU, and we still see it as Greece is beating back the colonists. Maiden? US machinations that cost EU 300,000 jobs due to Russia sanctions. COVID19? Nowhere are there more dead than. In the EU. A definite pattern. And I do believe that many are laughing at EU, not just Putin and Erdogan.
Na Zoliboy, it is always nice to recognize that you see the big picture
It is time that Canada fights colonists. Migrant Zoltán could laugh in Hungary at the EU – if he finds the time to do so. He could settle down in an area where his beloved dictator has caused already much damage. No, not to improve the lives of the people there, but to bring the good news of the regime to the people.
https://dex.hu/x.php?id=inxcl&url=https%3A%2F%2Findex.hu%2Fbelfold%2F2020%2F04%2F03%2Fkoronavirus_szegenyseg_borsod_falvak_szendro_tornanadaska_tomor_kozmunka_tavoktatas_ehezes%2F
Thanks for posting.
AKK: ‘This is not a game. ……’
In a way it would seem to be precisely that when it comes to diplomacy. The great sage Twain said ‘the principle of give and take is the principle of diplomacy, give one and take ten’. Orban country and the V4 have been playing that particular game for awhile and counting the wins.
Eventually the EU will have to cross their Rubicon with the illiberal states if things go downhill. But in the meantime they have to do something to stop being the nice terrier which keeps getting rocks thrown at it. It gives a wrong signal.
thinking through OV’s “trolling”, this simply means:
1.no other arguments, so trolls are out of arguments
2.know that it’s true, what they’re trolling against
3.for trolls it’s the only only left over option, to troll
4.after they’re “trolled out”, the trolls are finished
as Lou Reed’s friend Donald stated:
“You stick a fork in their ass and turn them over,
they’re done!”
Anyway, I am sure Orbán is very proud that he signed the declaration against him as well. Just now he can’t say anymore that the declaration is inacceptable for any nation state, it is just an internal affair and not the EU business, it’s a left declaration….
And in the meanwhile the “weak” EP parliament is going to start another Art. 7 procedure against the Hungarian government, now because of the enabling law. https://index.hu/kulfold/eurologus/2020/04/02/ujabb_hetes_cikkes_eljarast_javasolnak_magyarorszaggal_szemben/
Istvàn
Another Art. 7 procedure?! You don’t say? OMG…
C’mon, let’s be real, what did/does Orbàn care as long as the money keeps coming.
Besides halting the budget for the next period without EPPO, rule of law causes or similar mechanism this is the only the EP can do. But please think a step further as well! Without Orbán voting some really needed redesign of the treaties will be much easier and could include real measures against those who are working against the EU.
Last but not least there are voices to take Orbán to the court again concerning the decision about redistributing refugees published yesterday. Since this was the 1st stage, wherein no punishment can be involved. A fine will be determined at a 2nd stage. And very hard was the voice of an EPP friend of Orbán, the chairman of the German EPP MEPs Caspary, who told v/d Leyen to act immediately. German CDU against Orbán? At least that is new!
Istvàn
You’re right.
I meant ONE completed Art. 7 procedure is enough to take his vote away, and that it’s pointless to start several ones which won’t be brought to an end.
Of course ONE completed procedure is enough. But today we have doubtless new developments and these are going even further than the destruction of democratic institutions and rule of law we had so far. Everybody in the EU knows about the facts, just that a few prefer to protect Orbán by different reasons. If there is a chance that the newest actions of the regime is ending this protection it should be used. Orbán does not wait a second to enlarge his personal power. Those who want to protect democracy and rule of law have waited way too long with triggering Art 7 – the latest moment should have been the Tavares report. Now waiting again with a 2nd procedure only would give someone a reason to call the EU “weak”.
Having put a legalist in charge of PROTECTING AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS it seems that Judit Várga, the minister of Justice, has already lost count of the number who have died in Hungary as a result of the infection, insofar as the government’s own web site koronavirus.gov.hu now fails to give any number in that box. Perhaps it is just the result of the well-known inability of lawyers to count anything above 10, but there it is.
“clever” lawyers can come to 20, when they include their toes…
Ferenc, 4:03 am
I am sure that clever lawyers are able to come, but that was not what I was referring to.
That depends on the legal premises for counting! It doesn’t necessarily have to make 20, in order to be correct and legal, but ultimately, a third party must rule what is true.
The Semjén bill proposals have nothing to do with any coronavirus decrets. In fact, that’s why they weren’t announced as decrets but a normal bill. You can accuse Orbán with dictatorship, but in this case he was not a dictator. It is of course possible to criticize the bill proposals, but note that the part which would put all Hungarian mayors under goverment control, is withdrawn.
@0812frank, 4:55 am
An elegant effort at hair-splitting 08, but you need to remember Orbán has always been a dictator – in 1998, in 2002, after 2010 when he stole and spaffed 10 Billion Euros of citizens private pension funds and then stole their tax money to build stadiums here, there and everywhere. Sorry, it is in his heart, in his head and in his groin. Face it.
…but he won three consecutive democratic elections. And his winning margin was always huge. Sure he did questionable things but show me another leader who did not. Start with your own Trump (if you are from the States). In fact the stadium thing starts to be a bit boring… I would understand it more if there were only stadiums built and nothing else. Why people cannot leave this stadion thing alone, I don’t get it.
“three consecutive democratic elections”
NO, OV won 1 democratic election [2010] and manipulated the consecutive two [2014, 2018], so that he would surely win [though not anymore democratic!]
“OV did sure questionable things”
name me one NOT questionable thing OV did since 2010
@0812frank, 6:46 am
Ah yes, 08′ there seems to be rather a lot that you “don’t get”. Maybe you should go and get it and then come back and make a less biased comment. Off you go!
Yeah, “a kutya ugat és a karaván halad…” look it up if you don’t speak Hungarian but I bet most of you do. Go on with your arguments… be sure you are right. Good luck! And yes off I go….
Szijjártó just used it to defend the further destruction of democracy and rule of law. Quoting harci kakas’ stupidities shows lack of brains.
Last free and fair general election in Hu was in 2010.
Followed ever more rigged charades.
For sure.
More and more Magyarorszag is in the hands of a band of Jack the Rippers. The country is dying directly in front the EU’s eyes in a death rattle of slowwwwwwww strangulation. When at times they get caught in the tenuous game they play the grip loosens a bit only to begin tightening again when opportunity presents itself. This is a grave presence that works heartily in the dead of night.
0812frank, why do you call a thief a leader?
Ali Baba was the leader of 40 robbers. Hitler and Mussolini were the leaders. Now Orbán is.
Jan
Gang leader, godfather, capo …
Istvan, observer, thanks, it is never too late to learn
Just “ONE consecutive democratic elections”! 2014 and 2018 the opposition won the majority of votes. Giving 2/3 of MPs to the loosing party is not democratic at all”
OT: “By refusing to comply with the temporary mechanism for the relocation of applicants for international protection, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic have failed to fulfil their obligations under European Union law.”
https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2020-04/cp200040en.pdf
As a long-time reader and trans person in exile, I thought I should point out that “sex change” and “transsexual” are outdated terms that some find to be stigmatizing. We’re more properly talking about legal gender change for trans people anyway.
Orbán began removing trans healthcare from health coverage within a few months of taking office in 1998, and legal gender changes have been shoved into administrative limbo and effectively blocked for about 2 years now.
The decree goes much further than prohibiting future changes, which weren’t happening already. By my and others’ readings, it reclassifies the record of someone’s sex in the anyakönyv as sex assigned at birth, which is decreed to be unchangeable unless supported by chromosomal evidence. Thus it retroactively reverses legal gender changes granted to trans people.
Fidész has been spouting anti-trans (and more generally, anti-LGBT) rhetoric as long as I can remember, and their persecution of trans people goes beyond their alliance with Semjén.
So, do you expect refused entry because of opposed gender in passports and birth-certificates?
DAY 3 OF THE EU’S FIRST AND ONLY “POWER GRAB” DICTATORSHIP
DING…DING….DING
The only Democratic lineup that will be unbeatable–barring hacking of the voting machines–is Biden/Cuomo.
@petofi, 7:59 am
You are suggesting that for the next Hungarian election in 2022, right?
Right wing American media has made Cuomo into a scarecrow b/c of his support of Planned Parrenthood (and viceversa). It would be a mistake for Biden to get such a controversial running mate. America has more conservative voters than most liberals/leftists think – that’s why Trump won and still has a lot of supporters.
Choosing a woman is the right way to go, and even that has a huge potential of screw-up. Hopefully the Democrats (and their rich meddlesome backers and intelligence services) will realize in time that they only have one shot at this – and choose sensibly, like they did with Biden. But he needs as partner a fresh face, media-friendly, attractive, with positive accomplishments and no political baggage.
Congresswoman Katherine Clark of Massachusetts is one such unique person, a rare find in American politics – and for that matter anywhere else. Though I doubt the wheelers and dealers will be able to see past the end of their nose and correctly gauge how the people will respond in a future election. Popular mood changes, with or without the help of adversarial propaganda – and Democrats should see the writing on the wall before it’s too late.
OT
I have been taken to task a few times by some of our Anglophile bloggers who are a little inattentive. I just want to touch base briefly to remind you I wrote that the English were imbeciles. The evidence emerges by the hour that underscores that opinion. A nation with a big mouth but no strategic reserves. A nation that has no protective equipment for its health workers. A nation that cannot carry out crucial testing for those infected. But worse. A nation which has a government which seriously proposed a policy to encourage “herd immunity” in the face of all respectable scientific opinion. The spin off would have been internment for the 65s and over. Just look at the patriotic English press for comments which put mine in the shade as very moderate.
What is a clear admission of defeat is that various apologists remind us of Dunkirk. That was the final act in one of the biggest military disasters in history.
@Aida, 8:08 am “…one of the biggest disasters in history.” Gee, I always thought Nappy’s retreat from Moscow was worse, or even, the Hungarian collapse at the Don, but thank you, I continue to live and learn. “the English were imbeciles”, maybe they still are. But a cooler analysis would show that the current problems with the National Health Service in the UK has been the constant application of Tory Austerity dogma to the NHS and to Social Services in Britain over the last ten years. Remember the Tory MPs giving a round of applause in Parliament when a proposal to give NHS nurses a pay raise was rejected? No, the Tories got easy kudos for “saving on unnecessary waste” by cutting back on the NHS and selling parts off to US interests. Now, their crass short-sightedness has come home to roost, with death rates about 8 times higher than in Germany, yes Germany! The born-to-rule British upper class and their media and their money have much to answer for, but, of course, they wont. Still, Cameron, May, Johnson, Gove, Rees-Mogg, Francois and the rest of that mean-minded nasty party quite simply, have blood on their hands. There. That’s clear,… Read more »
Re: ‘The born-to-rule British upper class and their media and their money have much to answer for, but, of course, they won’t’.
Meet up with many Brits. Nice to have a few chats. There was one though who took the cake. It was very interesting to meet up with one who thought they were meeting an American ‘colonial’ in its 18th century uppity sense and having every word after getting ready to extoll all the virtues of the British Raj as she looked the part. When she was getting to ready to leave I was waiting for her to say she had an appointment and tea with the Queen at 3. Guess the aristocracy lives on. 😎
Aida 8:08, once again you take a government to represent a nation, perhaps in accordance with the smug (and clearly false) cliche that a democratic nation gets the government it deserves.
There is a great deal wrong with British – and especially English – society at present, but there are many signs also of its resilience.
I agree that the government is imbecilic (as well as cowardly, treacherous and vicious), but I repeat: whatever its unfortunate choice of government, to name-call an entire nation smacks of racism.
Ivan V
No racism here. People think in stereotypes (there’s no other way), but the stereotypes should be updated with the latest data available. As the joke goes : there’s no antiSemitism in Hu, but there’s a great demand for it. How do you call a nation who overwhelmingly vote for fascist parties?
OK Observer 8:08 pm, on reflection I did go a bit overboard charging Aida with racism. Yes, we’re all tempted to generalise and think in stereotypes. We need to put a modicum of effort into resisting the temptation. To call an entire nation imbecilic is itself im- er.. improper.
“A nation with a big mouth but no strategic reserves. A nation that has no protective equipment for its health workers. A nation that cannot carry out crucial testing for those infected.” etc etc. Surely we should substitute “government” for “nation”?
And look what just happened: a majority of Corbynistas, a majority!, have switched allegiance from his anointed successor to a man who resigned from his first shadow cabinet – a man they had been accusing of a coup against their Messiah. Of course, Labour members and supporters are not the whole country, but this does show that imbecilic behaviour is reversible and not necessarily diagnostic of essential imbecility.
I love the antisemitism joke!
Aida
Careful with the greatest military disasters, think Cannae, Agincourt, in 1941 Soviet Russia lost 3.9 million soldiers (incl. MIA or wounded).
The point was not to invite a rather pointless debate on or contributors to an article on military history. The expression I used was qualified. At the time, with skill and judgment the British news machine turned the defeat to good use. That news machine if now in charge would not allow scrappy, late, disorganised reaction to the impact of incompetence as a propaganda coup. It takes little to expose the lie that Covid 19 is a war against an unseen enemy. It is a largely self generated health care emergency.
Basically having now recovered from my volunteer work at Chicago’s Stroger Hospital yesterday I read Index this morning. I was reading about the latest report to the Hungarian people from the National Chief Medical Officer Cecília Müller at https://index.hu/belfold/2020/04/02/operativ_torzs_muller_cecilia_tajekoztato_csutortok_osszefoglalo/ . Apparently she stated something to the effect that so far in Hungary of the people infected with Covid-19 “42 főre emelkedett a gyógyultak száma is.” (42 of those people have been healed). I have heard her use the word “gyógyult” before in reference to people identified with Covid-19 who were hospitalized and then released from the hospital when their respiratory symptoms allowed for adequate breathing and were likely no longer contagious due to viral RNA shedding. In fact Dr. Müller discussed the curing of people with Covid-19 again during her press conference in response to a question from a reporter who asked when was a person actually cured. Index writes of her answer the following: “When did a coronavirus patient heal? If they are asymptomatic, they are not treated in hospital, but a 14-day quarantine, with self-monitoring, is important even in asymptomatic cases. Even after hospitalization, two weeks of self-monitoring at home are recommended to prevent relapse. The third test is usually negative,… Read more »
The Chicago Medical corp is now placing me for the duration of the medical emergency at Stroger Hospital and I will return there tomorrow. Effectively between the Illinois National guard and the retired volunteers recruited by the Chicago Medical corp a full auxiliary hospital located at Chicago’s largest convention center will be fully staffed as its beds are filled assuming it is needed. That is an enormous achievement on the part of retired doctors, nurses, EMTs, respritory therapists, and even psychologists for our city. An adequate number of ventilators have also been acquired for the 3,000-bed makeshift hospital to treat coronavirus patients. The facility was constructed by the US Army Corp of engineers and will be operational by Saturday. True heroes those soldiers are!
This story from New York City https://nypost.com/2020/04/02/coronavirus-nyc-emts-stop-taking-cardiac-arrest-patients-to-hospitals/ was for me as someone who is a certified EMT deeply upsetting. I pray for those EMTs in NYC, they are heroes like the medics in a war. I hope this does not happen in Budapest, but releasing that information now would be apparently illegal on the part of any newspaper.
Thank you for your service Istvan. The true test is not what we say, but rather what we do. You have certainly passed that test!
I agree. A more honest phrasing would be “out of treatment” or “finished treatment”, however, this would also include the deceased.
Getting daily reports from NYC. It’s incredible the situation they are in with regard to medical equipment. That ball was dropped a long time ago. Truly hope the ‘spike’ destined to come won’t hit the heights thrown out. And America with its 300+ million population now starts its trend up in casualties with the rest of the world.
Another madness: Dr. Fauci’s life is in danger as he’s been targeted by conspiracy theorists who believe he is dissing Trump. The virus apparently has gone to the demented.
Mrs von der Leyen is “besorgt” (worried) about O1G’s “Notstandsgesetz”:
https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/notstandsgesetz-in-ungarn-eu-besorgt-ueber-vollmachten-fuer-orban-16708937.html?m
Now we’ll see what the EU and she will be doing – if anything at all …
That sounds like the commission has decided to wait out the C-19 situation, before turning their attention to Hungary.
Well at least she actually used the word Hungary Wolfi, which was an advancement compared to her initial response. I suspect she did this because of many stories like this one https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/hungary-orban-coronavirus-europe-eu-fidesz-a9441946.html . Which correctly states as the title summarizes “Europe will be destroyed by Orban’s authoritarianism – unless it unites to stop him.”
Ultimately this is an advancement, not due to the political class in the EU, but due to many people in Europe who ultimately share some democratic values. I hope there are enough similar people here in the USA to remove Trump in November whether conservatives, liberals, or democratic socialists.
Istvan, there are politicians in Germany who use stronger words, like Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, Germany’s Justice Minister between 2009 and 2013 and currently the deputy chairwoman of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.
She also calls O1G’s law an “Ermächtigungsgesetz” in Hitler style – and her comment is in English:
http://hungarianfreepress.com/2020/04/02/sabine-leutheusser-schnarrenbergers-statement-on-the-situation-in-hungary/
She also clearly says (exactly my opinion):
The motion is deliberately vague. It does not clarify who decides what “false information” is, what exactly constitutes a “disturbance” of the quarantine or why a state of emergency is required for an indefinite period. From a legal perspective, there is no reason for this Enabling Act.
And she uses even stronger words!
Those who do not want pluralism of opinion want the totalitarian state.
Even von Lambsdorf used Ermähtigungsgezetz talking about Orbàn’s grab at unlimited power.
Observer, just a small correction:
It’s Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, member of a famous noble family whose father also was a diplomat like his uncle Otto Graf Lambsdorff – all members of the liberal FdP.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Graf_Lambsdorff
And it’s spelled Ermächtigungsgesetz, in case someone wants to search for it.
Wolfi
Sorry, I heard von L., but might have misheard it. I remember the name of Otto L.
Pls leave some skin on me for misspelling the Ermeh………(god!).
The EU should have long ago moved to do their duty: open investigations in cases of the monumental corruption raging in Orbanistan, summon documents and witnesses, freeze all funding until these are presented and charge Orbàn and implicated minions in any court of the (net contributor) countries, issuing arrest warrants and freezing assets (the US way). The supposed electoral mandate of a politician doesn’t put him above the law so the Orbàn mafia honchos would have been in some European prison or in hiding, their property confiscated and the Orbàn regime would have been eliminated by such attrition.
Such action would have actually strengthened the EU (people love strong leaders. Marty)
Any smart team of lawyers (Marty, again) could have directed such a process without mentioning politics, but there wasn’t/isn’t political will.
Dr. van der Leyen needs to deal with the “unlimited dictatorship” problem right now.
If she really believed in the EU and saw clearly the damage dictatorship claims are doing and will do in the future to the organization, she should issue her own statement saying simply that from this moment no more financial aid will be given to any country that violates the norms of government and behavior embodied by the EU. No time for talkie-talkie. Go for the jugular.
Sure Zoltan’s Pox would have a hissy fit but he does that pretty regularly and no one listens to him. O1G would then get out the heavy guns like Judit Várga and she could start to argue Hungary’s case in the meeting rooms of Brussels. The EU Council either accepts the proposal or it does not. If it does, Orbán is screwed. If it does not, the EU is screwed.
The question is does Dr. van der Leyen have the “balls”, the courage, to do it? Does she?
OT:
Donald shows the way to use a face mask:
Google
newyorker trump animated gif corona mask
I can’t link directly to it …
Since you are reading the New Yorker Wolfi Siddhartha Mukherjee has a pretty interesting article titled “How Does the Coronavirus Behave Inside a Patient?” It addresses the issue of the association between the intensity of viral exposure and the intensity of subsequent disease. Honestly, Wolfi his discussion matched my own logic relating to my volunteer work here in Chicago.
I will not expose myself daily to Covid 19 patients as unfortunately doctors and nurses at Stroger hospital are doing, they have no option. That is in good part why I am home today. I am obsessed with my own exposure and actually have multiple N95 masks given to me by a Korean doctor friend (also a former ROK Army captain) along with a white paramedic suit I wear under my scrubs along with the long sleeve surgical gowns provided by the hospital. After tomorrow I will only be volunteering once every three days.
Mukherjee is a very smart doctor, I want to read his book “The Gene: An Intimate History” it’s on my list, hopefully I will get to it one day.
Dear @Istvan (Chicago),
Again, thank you for your book & article recommendations!
Hint: Elbakyan in Ecuador …
Istvan, thanks for your info “from the inside” of the fight against Corona – and for the patients!
Wish you all the best.
PS:
I only get the humour newsletter (the Borowitz report) from the NewYorker, other articles are behind a paywall – but I’ll try.Of course in these time it’s more a kind of gallows humour …
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/06/how-does-the-coronavirus-behave-inside-a-patient
Thanks, tappanch!
It seems I have to delete the cookies after I’ve reached my number of free articles.
If anyone else has similar problems – using firefox go to “Options”, security, manage data and then look for the relevant cookies and delete them.
With some sites it’s worth it – of course you also could subscribe …
A recommendation against Trekking Cookies! Check Cookies und Website-Daten beim Beenden von Firefox löschen.
Orbalini:
https://images2.persgroep.net/rcs/hO6CHjSSU9Wjs5zNAfqwdswscBo/diocontent/169052780/_fitwidth/763?appId=93a17a8fd81db0de025c8abd1cca1279&quality=0.8
https://www.trouw.nl/buitenland/populisten-kijken-verschillend-aan-tegen-het-coronavirus-hoe-kan-dat~b495140b
“Travel data of passengers arriving in the United States from China during the critical period in December, January and February, when the disease took hold in that country, shows a stunning 759,493 people entered the U.S. ”
“Those travelers from China included more than 228,000 Americans returning home and hundreds of thousands of Chinese nationals arriving for business, academics, tourism or to visit family. ”
“Trump restricted travel from China effective Feb. 2”
December, January and February:
1.9 million came from Britain,
418,848 arrived from Spain,
343,402 arrived from Italy
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/disaster-motion-34-million-travelers-poured-us-coronavirus/story?id=69933625
I messed up my logo, sorry.
A comprehensive report on the actual reasons and/or implications of ruling by decree.
There is no good reason behind any thing this odious and corrupt regime does.
Do you really need an official report to ascertain that?
2nd day without a report of deaths from Covid-19 on the government’s page.
https://koronavirus.gov.hu
2nd day of not knowing what to say!
Ok, You guys have to gather some intelligence from the hospital mortuaries and morticians. Are the other days’ bodies being handed over to the families or what? How many transports yesterday and today?, etc.
And don’t forget the organ/tissue racket. This is their high season.
[…] push through other measures. Almost immediately, they were used to pass controversial edicts on museum construction and theater management, and to forbid sex changes—issues without the remotest relevance to the […]
[…] push through other measures. Almost immediately, they were used to pass controversial edicts on museum construction and theater management, and to forbid sex changes—issues without the remotest relevance to the […]
[…] push through other measures. Almost immediately, they were used to pass controversial edicts on museum construction and theater management, and to forbid sex changes—issues without the remotest relevance to the […]
Observer
These bills were obviously prepared in advance, ie. the Enabling Act was intended to be a political weapon for the consolidation of the dictatorial powers and turn the “fascism light” into a “full flavor” one.
Not totally OT:
In the list of recent comments you’ll also find links to relevant articles like this scathing analysis of the Ermächtigungsgesetz:
https://www.anneapplebaum.com/2020/04/03/in-hungary-the-coronavirus-is-just-an-excuse/
OV&Co MEP Szájer wrote to EPP colleagues: “do not hinder us by unfounded criticism in the midst of our fight!”
Other OV minions have written similar opinions elsewhere.
What does this mean?
Preparation of scape-goats [all those who disagree with OV’s latest actions against “Corona”] so that they can be blamed in the case of Corona gets also out of control* in OV’s Hungary!
*as everywhere else where the virus appeared and started spreading
PS [acc.Applebaum]: Zoltán Kovács, Hungary’s serially dishonest press spokesperson
Using the EU as a set for the staging of their freely oscillating Fidesz improv drama-class, must be getting boring for the HU public in the long run! Or perhaps, that entertainment is actually what attracts the audience?
my experience in Hungary [very generally spoken]:
–Hungarian people are too proud for their own good
–all criticism is taken as personal offence
–it’s alway the mistake of somebody else
OV’s scape-goating methods fit in “perfectly” with the above…
For a moment, I thought you meant Iran! 😉
Dear Anne Applebaum,
Shall I re-send you the mails I wrote to you in 2011 and 2014 drawing attention to the first acts and projecting the development of the Orbàn regime?
Regrettably I couldn’t place a bet then….
Anne Applebaum’s latest article on the governing by decree gives a link to HS’s article on the decrees that have nothing to do with the pandemic.
It’s a good insight article alright. My reference above was to some naive or uninformed parts of her articles at the time (smth like the L.Lengyel, L.Kèri cautious but totally unfounded optimism).
AA has gotten it on the head now.
[…] of actions taken. Since Monday, the executive passed a series of controversial diktats – from museum construction and theater management, to prohibit transgender people from legally changing their sex—issues that to my knowledge have […]
These bills were obviously prepared in advance, ie. the Enabling Act was intended to be a political weapon for the consolidation of the dictatorial powers and turn the “fascism light” into a “full flavor” one.
[…] push through other measures. Almost immediately, they were used to pass controversial edicts on museum construction and theater management, and to prohibit transgender people from legally changing their sex—issues without the remotest […]
O1G sending the military to the German car companies – to help …
https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/corona-notstandsgesetze-ungarn-schickt-soldaten-zu-bosch-16711017
Did you know that Bosch has 15 000 workers in Hungary and is the largest employer there in the automobile related industry?
I was surprised too …