Orbán is once again going against the EU, and says he will pay for Russian gas with rubles.
Russia has demanded that "unfriendly" countries pay for gas in rubles amid his war in Ukraine.
Though Hungary is an EU country and NATO member, Orbán has close ties with Putin.
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Hungary's authoritarian prime minister has broken ranks with the European Union, saying that he will pay for Russian gas in rubles amid Russian President Vladimir Putin's war with Ukraine.
"We don't have any difficulty paying in rubles. If the Russians ask us to, we pay in rubles," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told reporters on Wednesday, according to a tweet by Hungary's international spokesman Zoltan Kovacs.
Putin has threatened to stop sending gas to Europe if countries Russia designated as "unfriendly" don't pay in rubles.
The move is part of an effort to boost the value of the Russian currency by increasing demand for it. The ruble was initially hit hard due to crippling economic sanctions as a result of Putin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, but the Russian currency has made a stunning recovery.
"If unfriendly countries do not pay in rubles from April 1, we will consider this a default on gas contracts, in which case existing contracts will be stopped," Putin said after signing a decree on Thursday, according to Russian state news outlet RIA Novosti.
The list of "unfriendly countries," which received the designation from Russia in response to widespread condemnation of its six-week invasion of Ukraine, includes the US, UK, and EU countries.
Hungary is a member of the EU and NATO, though Orbán is an ally of Putin.
The Hungarian leader recently referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as one of his "opponents" in his victory speech after he was re-elected to a fourth term. Orbán ran on a platform of "peace and security," telling Hungarians he could keep them safe from the consequences of the war in Ukraine.
Other European leaders have rejected Putin's demands to pay for Russian gas in rubles.
Germany — Europe's largest economy — has already activated an emergency plan to deal with disruptions to its natural-gas supply.
Orbán has taken a series of anti-democratic steps to cement his rule in Hungary since coming to power over a decade ago, including enriching his allies with public funds, eroding the free press, attacking the independence of the judiciary, and remaking the electoral system to favor his party.
Rights groups and democracy watchdogs have expressed serious concerns about these trends in Hungary, as well as Orbán's anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ policies.
The Hungarian leader's close ties with Russia, as well as the Chinese government, has been a constant source of tension with the EU. Orbán has been repeatedly condemned by the EU on issues like human rights.
The European Commission on Tuesday announced it would move to cut billions in EU funding to Hungary for violating its rule-of-law standards, after years of democratic backsliding under Orbán.
Nevermind04 on April 6th, 2022 at 15:10 UTC »
Imagine looking at the extreme sanctions on Russia which have entirely collapsed their economy and thinking "This is exactly what my country needs".
External_Cookie_2046 on April 6th, 2022 at 14:43 UTC »
Sadly, most of Hugarian people vote based on media such as TV or newspapers, which is controlled by Fidesz (Orban's party). The amount of propaganda is insane. For example just the fact that the national television is showing how great Fidesz is 24/7 before the elections and then gives aprox. 5 min time for the opposition to speak. Even those 5 minutes get twisted, edited and cut to further villainize them.
Most people do not get as far as to do ANY research for voting, matter of fact the conversations paired with an after work beer IS the research for a lot of people from rural areas.
Old people receive a little bit of money now and then, which helps them meet months end with more ease. This makes them think they have it good and they do not realize what it could be.
They literally told on national television not to listen to the young educated people, because they dont know what is good for the country.
Well who would know better than them? Oh maybe people of high education with some age and experience? Well though shit because the educated rich people also love Fidesz because of the low tax rates...
So all together I just feel like a lot of people do not know that they could have it better... and there are a bunch and bunch of other reasons for this election going this way.
Kinoksis on April 6th, 2022 at 14:17 UTC »
Holy shit, is this idiot eager the get kicked out of the EU?