Hungary has become a dictatorship

• On Monday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban effectively became the world's newest dictator when the country's parliament voted to suspend elections and granted him the power to rule by decree with no time limit.
• "At this point, Hungary is a full-on dictatorship — no if, ands, or buts. This was simply the last step in the process," Sheri Berman, a political scientist at Barnard College, told Insider.
• But experts on authoritarianism say that while Hungary presents a particularly concerning case in terms of leaders exploiting the crisis, it is not unique.
• "Authoritarian leaders, whether in authoritarian regimes (e.g., China and Venezuela) or in (nominal) democracies (e.g., Israel and UK), are using the coronavirus crisis, like most crises, to strengthen their grip on power and weaken dissent and opposition," Cas Mudde, a political scientist at the University of Georgia, told Insider.

The coronavirus pandemic has morphed Hungary into a full-blown authoritarian state, as autocratic leaders around the world are exploiting panic and fear surrounding the virus to consolidate power and dismantle democracy, according to experts.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday was granted sweeping emergency powers by the country's parliament to combat the coronavirus, giving him the right to rule by decree indefinitely (the power to bypass the national assembly) and suspend existing laws. The European Union member has also suspended future elections, effectively eradicating democracy in the country and making Orban the world's newest dictator.

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Don't think this is a unique case. It is frankly rather normal.

Orban is hardly unique in terms of using the coronavirus crisis as a means of extending or expanding his rule.

"Authoritarian leaders, whether in authoritarian regimes (e.g., China and Venezuela) or in (nominal) democracies (e.g., Israel and UK), are using the coronavirus crisis, like most crises, to strengthen their grip on power and weaken dissent and opposition," Cas Mudde, a political scientist at the University of Georgia who's an expert on populism, extremism, and democracy, told Insider.

He has used his time efficiently since 2010. Getting the courts already under his rule before this law was enabled.

"Hungary is particularly problematic, as the government has virtually no counterpower and liberal democracy had been largely dismantled in the past decade. Consequently, as Orban now rules by decree, and most courts have already been under his rule, Hungary has become truly an authoritarian state, despite its nominal democratic facade," Mudde added.

Europe is in for some harder times ahead, even when the corona virus situation is out of the window. What you say?

Not sure what's wrong with some of the people in these countries anymore but dictatorships are not the way to go and all that mean is eventually bloodshed will happen.

@LJS9502_basic: Agreed. It has never ended well.

Meh, the Left doesn’t like Hungary because they’re conservative, refuse globalism, patriotic, don’t allow migrants in from certain countries, and hate George Soros. All things leftists aren’t.

I’m not sure if the OP has noticed, but the planet is in the midst of a global pandemic. Quite possibly the worst time for government transition. Especially with an economy as fragile as Hungary.

Personally, I like Hungary and it’s leadership. The West could learn a lesson.

Trump to his advisors upon seeing this: "When can we do this?"

@Sevenizz: How does the pandemic excuse dictatorship?

Honestly the only thing I get from your post is that rightwingers wants dictatorships and that’s all they work for.

@Sevenizz: Yeah, learn Not what to do during a pandemic.

Hungary will not be allowed to continue down this path, but it´s a good test for the EU´s future.

Will, they either ramp up the EUS dreams or will they keep going and allow countries like Poland and Hungary to go down "anti-democratic" .avenues

@speedfreak48t5p:

@horgen:

Sevenizz is not even remotely serious. He is just a parody account.

This will happen here if we area not careful. Republicans have already been passing laws rolling back our rights.

@Sevenizz: I bet you're into funny mustaches.

Seems that way in the US at least. How else to explain the excuses?

How will they not be allowed? It's nothing in their own systems that will stop this.

The EU has rules and laws that regulate countries. So, of course, the EU can´t stop Hungary for doing what they want, but they can throw them out of the EU.

Throwing them out doesn't change it into democracy.

Way too obvious of an act. Try to work on subtlety if you want to succeed at trolling.

Trolling I hope because if serious...….wow!

@LJS9502_basic: Trolling. We got a few of them.

No, but did you expect anyone but the Hungarian people to do that?

Who have just lost their peaceful means to do so.

@horgen Yeah, I'd been reading about Hungary's transition down that path for some time. It's sad to see that democracy can be so vulnerable. But we've seen similar things happen in Turkey, Brazil, and the Phillipines. Even the US has a president who thinks he's a dictator.

@sonicare: It has been ongoing for the last 10 years. Slowly chipping away democracy, piece by piece.

You don't easily revert back from dictatorship...

Dictators are people and so stupid as well. Also they don't actually care about the people...just the power. And absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Nice troll alt.

@horgen:

I am not shocked. It's not hard to see that when 17 times more people died of the flu, even though we allegedly have flu vaccines (that never work) no one cared. This feels like an orchestrated effort to enact total control over the people of all countries. I am not surprised. This is an attempt at micromanaging everyone. I don't think it will end well for the various leaders though. I will not be surprised to see the rise of World Civil Wars I, in which the wars are the people against the governments. I have been predicting this for a few years and I think this is the beginning right here, right now. If America does not get things back to normal soon it's going to be mayhem.

@redphoenix80: Are you living under a rock?

@horgen: Since you are a mod, can you see if he is an alt?

@thegreatchomp: It got the markings of one before doing any check at all. Doesn’t mean it is though.

@horgen: Might not, that’s why I asked. His posts are very similar to another poster here.

This is you:

That's you. You're Anakin (the Hayden Christenson Anakin, not the cool Clone Wars Anakin). You going to bitch about sand next? It's so coarse and leftist!?!?!

Get a grip man, you're literally saying you're OK with dictatorships.

I don't even want to think about that. I know we have certain checks and balances in effect to stop stuff like dictatorships from happening, but we've all seen the lengths the GOP (and the Democrats, to an extent) are willing to go of late.

@diefthyntis: oh look everyone. Another shock posting alt.

Blocked

@mrbojangles25: Except, it’s not a dictatorship - not even close. They’re suspending elections due to the current global crisis. That is all.

Just because some wacky leftists overblow the situation to fit their narrative, doesn’t mean it’s accurate.

@Sevenizz: He’s trying to become one, yes. You’re clueless.

Sure, but what else than expel Hungary from the EU, which btw will mean a ton of money lost, since Hungary is the recipient of a lot more funds than they have to pay to the EU.

Can they do? you hopefully don´t suggest the EU (with no military) goes into Hungary and depose a democratically elected official.

@leicam6: Let me guess, you’re a liberal, right?

@Sevenizz: No, but you’re a fake troll.

@Sevenizz: What a nice compliment.

Suspending them forever if they want to.

@horgen: I’m guessing you have no clue how parliamentary politics work.

There is no time limit on the current law that suspends the elections. Viktor Orban rules by decree, not by going through parliament.

How can a country be democracy if there are no elections? How is it inaccurate to call Hungary a dictatorship now? You throw out claim after claim but never back them up. You're no better than a troll at this point.

@Jacanuk: The EU is tantalisingly close to collapse as it is. Trust me, the EU wont throw Hungary out for doing what the Hungarian parliament thinks is best... o matter how warped these new powers are.

@sealionact: Hope not. It has been a great thing for the world. The left needs to protect it.

You're not living in Europe/EU, are you?

Going to laugh if Britain had the right idea getting out of the EU.

@mrbojangles25: They didn’t. The UK will go back within the next ten years.

@horgen: This is ridiculous. This is TEMPORARY. Have you seen what the world looks like out there lately? People can’t leave their house. How are they supposed to vote in a fair election? The left are just using this as an opportunity to bash a majority right leaning country. What they should be doing is fixing the hard left liberals who are trying to promote communism. An ideology that strips everyone of every human right and gives complete control over to the government.

There is absolutely no reason to believe it is temporarily. The law has already been used to tighten the grip around the nation‘s theatres, making sure some changes/building a park in Budapest Is being done despite the people there doesn’t want it.

In 2016 an emergency law was enabled due to immigration crisis. It was supposed to only last 6 months, was prolonged this March because according to the government immigrants still poses a threat. Despite there barely being any immigrants close to the border.

Would you accept that Obama postponed the president election in 2016 due to a pandemic? Postponing it without a date that it would end and the election could be held?