Hungary, a country that accounts for barely 2% of the European Union (EU) population, has just vetoed €50 billion in additional funding for Ukraine. The other 26 EU countries all support 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 return for a positive vote from his country. This is because the European Union has blocked money transfers to Hungary due to several anti-democratic measures taken by Orban. Beyond blackmailing Hungary, Orban's maneuvers raise the recurring problem of the EU's viability in its current structures. They may show the fragility of democracies that suffer from constant attacks from dictatorships.
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1) How do democracies suffer from attacks by dictatorships?
Dictatorships have never liked democracies. But until the advent of the Internet and social networks, they had little opportunity to attack public opinion in democracies. In the past, small political groups like the Maoists and other communist parties served as transmission belts to China or Russia. Thanks to social networks, the propaganda of these dictatorships reaches voters in democratic countries much more easily. It is picked up, repeated and reinforced by gullible people, but with no real understanding of politics.
2) Which political measures does Orban criticize?
Orban controls the education system, the state media and the justice system through the appointment of people loyal to him. Orban also changed 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 rule 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) To what extent are the EU's working mechanisms poor?
The EU needs the unanimity of its member states to make important decisions. However, in crucial moments when quick decisions have to be made, it takes too long to achieve this unanimity. Worse still, the permeability of public opinion in member states, as well as each leader's own intentions, pave the way for costly political negotiations. Fortunately for the EU, a consensus is slowly emerging on the need to reform its structures in order to achieve majority decision-making. In addition, Emmanuel Macron, fearing the impact of Ukraine's agricultural power on the EU and especially France, warned that the organization's rules would have to be changed before Ukraine's possible admission.
5) Could Ukraine still receive money from the EU?
EU leaders, including Orban, are aware of the threat posed by Putin's Russia. Orban is playing a dangerous game. This is because Ukraine, which is currently not receiving financial support from the US and Europe, could give in. Russia would then risk winning decisive victories in the coming months. Ultimately, all of Europe would be threatened. For this reason, EU leaders are already trying to finance Ukraine without going through the EU, that is, by going directly to the state coffers of individual member states.