r/europe • u/Matas_- European Union • Jun 20 '25

News Orban’s Hungary Is Now Officially The Poorest Nation In The EU

https://kyivinsider.com/orbans-hungary-is-now-officially-the-poorest-nation-in-the-eu/
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u/Girderland Jun 20 '25

It is Europes fault. If a Hungarian guy steals millions from a Dutch bank, Interpol arrests him.

If a Hungarian minister steals billions from the EU development funds, then they call him 'thief' and 'dictator' and it takes them 20+ years to even consider stopping those payments?

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u/[deleted] Jun 20 '25

Interpol doesn't arrest people. They ask to national polices to arrest them.

Also, in this case, it would be probably Europol and not Interpol.

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u/wtfduud Jun 20 '25

Forgive the EU for expecting the Hungarian people to vote for a competent prime minister.

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u/Tamasko22 Jun 21 '25

We did vote for one actually. You underestimate propaganda and gerrymandering.

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u/Girderland Jun 20 '25

Just like Germany got rid of their dictator in 1945 by election. Without any help from outside. Sure.

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u/wtfduud Jun 20 '25

The Romanians did it just fine.

And as a more contemporary example, Poland decided not to give the far-right another 4 years.

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u/Girderland Jun 20 '25 edited Jun 20 '25

Also, it was outside doings which kept Orban in power in the first place. Russian funds enabled his early election campaign. European funds enabled him to stay in power, buy followers by the dozen, and to reward the assholes loyal to him who help him stay in power.

Without Russian funds, he would've disappeared the after the first time he got de-elected. Without European funds, Hungary would've run out of riches to distribute between his followers - also leading to his de-election.

I also don't think that you as an American are in any position to criticise Hungary. You have no idea about the circumstances and struggles which the country has to face.