Paybacks are hell, aren’t they, Viktor?

That would be Viktor Orban, yet again. You remember: the Prime Minister of Hungary who has been practicing — all on his own authority — shuttle diplomacy from Kyiv, to Moscow, to Beijing, and even to Mar-A-Lago on the assumption that Donald Trump will be returning to the White House in January . . . offering to effect a solution to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

And all without checking first with his country’s partners in the European Union or in NATO. And all while Hungary holds the rotating six-month Presidency of the Council of the EU.

That’s really not smart, Viktor. Because it goes against everything your membership in those alliances is supposed to stand for. And because your colleagues are really pissed off now. So much so, in fact, that the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has stripped Hungary of the right to host the next meeting of foreign and defense ministers, which was to have been held in Budapest in late August, but will now take place in a location to be determined. Mr. Borrell said that Hungary’s actions should have consequences, and that “we have to send a signal, even if it is a symbolic signal.” [Christy Cooney, BBC News, July 23, 2024.]

Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, wrote on Facebook: “What a fantastic response they have come up with. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but it feels like being in a kindergarten.” But Orban hasn’t found much support within the EU; of the other 26 member countries, only Slovakia has backed him in this dispute. [Id.] And Slovakia’s government is headed by his like-minded friend, and fellow Putin fan, Robert Fico.

So here’s a lesson for you, Prime Minister Orban: Even in kindergarten, actions do — and absolutely should — have consequences. How else can our children be expected to learn right from wrong?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/24/24