The European Commission is blocking the payment of more than 21 billion euros in so-called cohesion grants, because Hungary would undermine the rule of law. For example, it was agreed that the Hungarian Judicial Council should have a greater say and that judges should be able to refer cases more easily to the European Court of Justice. Blocking benefits makes sense, says Reuten. “People are getting more and more nervous, so we shouldn’t be distracted by new blackmail attempts from Orbán now. No real reform, so no money!’
Whether it is reluctance or impotence, Reuten cannot say, but experience shows that Hungary often fails to deliver on its big promises. Seeing is believing, he said about it a month ago. “And I have not become more optimistic about it, in fact more negative. Hungary tries to free up as much money as possible to buy time with as few real reforms as possible. In the hope that after the 2024 elections a new wind will blow, with a new European Commission’.
State of danger
While negotiations with the European Commission are still ongoing, the screws for teachers and the rights of the LGBTQ community in Hungary are only being tightened further, notes Reuten. “There is simply no will to really bring democracy back. This is also reflected in the ongoing ‘state of danger’, a kind of state of emergency which gives the government broad powers to limit any form of meddling and meddling by parliament. For example, with Orbán we have been in a position for years in which we would not like to be ”.
“People are getting more and more nervous, so we shouldn’t get distracted by new blackmail attempts from Orbán now”
According to Reuten, a large majority in the European Parliament believes the money should be frozen if Hungary refuses to seriously reform. But it doesn’t end there, as far as he’s concerned. ‘We are very concerned that a country which is no longer really a democracy and whose head of government can simply fly to Moscow by plane will soon become president of the European Union. We want government leaders to start thinking about it now. If nothing changes, the money must remain locked up and member states must finally persevere with that procedure to further tighten Hungary’s thumbscrews.’