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https://twitter.com/NAFO_Hungary/status/1653292127542034433?s=20

More from @splendid_pete

Pete

@splendid_pete

Nov 14

🇺🇸🧵⬇️ 1/8 Breaking: Satirical news outlet The Onion has acquired Alex Jones' Infowars at a bankruptcy auction, with financial backing from families of Sandy Hook victims, marking a striking turn in the defamation saga that has gripped the nation. Here's the story:

2/8 Alex Jones owes Sandy Hook families over $1B in defamation judgments after calling the 2012 school shooting a "hoax." The auction of Infowars, including its platform, trademarks, and archives, is part of efforts to dissolve his assets for restitution.

3/8 Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was killed at Sandy Hook, stated: "The dissolution of Alex Jones’ assets and the death of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for." The sale price remains undisclosed.

Read 8 tweets

Pete

@splendid_pete

Oct 26

🇭🇺 1/20 Péter Schatz, a central figure in Orbán’s media strategy, has become a powerful player in Hungary’s Balkan influence efforts. With investments across Slovenia 🇸🇮, North Macedonia 🇲🇰, and beyond, Schatz’s media empire serves a nationalist agenda—here’s the full story.

🇭🇺🇸🇮 2/20 Schatz, former MTVA executive, operates media outlets in Slovenia 🇸🇮, North Macedonia 🇲🇰, and Croatia 🇭🇷, funded by interests tied to Orbán. These channels echo Orbán’s hardline stance on migration, EU, and nationalism—shaping regional discourse in Hungary’s image.

🇸🇮 3/20 One of Schatz’s flagship investments is Slovenia’s 🇸🇮 Nova24TV, closely aligned with SDS, the party of Orbán ally Janez Janša. Nova24TV disseminates nationalist and anti-migrant messaging, directly mirroring Hungary’s domestic media tactics.

occrp.org/en/investigati…

Read 20 tweets

Pete

@splendid_pete

Oct 23

During his speech on the 68th anniversary of the 1956 revolution, Orbán highlighted the following key points:

Opposition:

Orbán criticizes the Hungarian opposition throughout his speech, accusing them of betraying the nation by siding with foreign powers, particularly Brussels. He compares today’s opposition to the communists of 1956, suggesting they, like their predecessors, are willing to sell out Hungary’s interests for foreign support. He claims that they are calling for Hungary to join the war against Russia by supporting Ukraine and that their actions threaten Hungary’s sovereignty. Specifically, Orbán states that the opposition believes Hungary should fight “for Ukraine, even in Ukraine,” whereas his government believes that Hungary should only fight for “Hungary and Hungarian freedom.” He further claims that the opposition, both old and new, has always been on the side of foreign powers, and he contrasts this with his government’s defense of national interests.

Orbán also asserts that the opposition leader is allied with figures like Manfred Weber in Brussels, suggesting an unholy alliance between them to undermine Hungary’s sovereignty. He accuses the opposition of being part of a conspiracy to replace the current government with a “puppet government” controlled by Brussels.

Not even once did he say Péter Magyar’s name…

Brussels:

Orbán depicts Brussels as a new imperial power, attempting to dominate Hungary much like the Soviets did during the Cold War. He claims that Brussels has explicitly stated its intention to remove Hungary’s national government and install a puppet regime that will follow its directives. This, according to Orbán, mirrors the Soviet occupation of Hungary when a puppet government was imposed with the help of local collaborators. He emphasizes that the same pattern is repeating, with Brussels wanting to interfere in Hungary’s domestic affairs, eroding its independence.

Orbán claims that Brussels is pushing Hungary to engage in the Russia-Ukraine war and accuses European leaders of attempting to drag Hungary into a conflict that is not its own. He warns that Brussels is increasingly aggressive, demanding that Hungary submit to its will on issues like military support for Ukraine and migration policy. Orbán insists that his government will resist these pressures and maintain Hungary’s independence.

Read 6 tweets

Pete

@splendid_pete

Oct 16

❗️🇭🇺🗞️ 1/8 The recent overhaul within the Hungarian military have drawn widespread attention and criticism, reflecting deeper concerns about the government's approach to state institutions. In early 2023, the Hungarian Defense Ministry, led by Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, initiated a broad and sudden dismissal of senior military officers, reportedly targeting those over 45 years of age who had served for more than 25 years. This decision, which affected hundreds of high-ranking personnel, has sparked debate over its true motives.

2/8 Critics, including opposition figures like Ágnes Vadai, have described the move as a "political purge," suggesting that the government is systematically removing individuals who might resist its agenda. This perspective is fueled by the fact that many of the dismissed officers had extensive international experience, including stints in NATO missions. By removing these individuals, there is concern that the government is weakening the military's connections to NATO, aligning it more closely with Hungary's controversial foreign policy stance, which has often been at odds with Western allies due to its favorable relations with Russia.

3/8 The Defense Ministry, however, has defended the dismissals as part of a modernization and rejuvenation effort. According to Szalay-Bobrovniczky, the intention was to streamline the military hierarchy, making room for younger officers who are better equipped to handle new technologies and modern warfare tactics. The Ministry emphasized that reducing the "top-heavy" structure of the military was essential for efficient operation and that younger officers, especially those trained in NATO frameworks, would be crucial for managing Hungary’s modernized defense capabilities.

Read 8 tweets

Pete

@splendid_pete

Sep 30

📢 Opinion piece. 1/n

A word that the right wing doesn’t know: pragmatism.

The modern right-wing political movement often finds itself torn between ideological purity and the practicality of addressing complex societal issues. This friction between principle and pragmatism can be observed in various policy areas, including drugs, arms control, abortion, migration, taxes, and the penal system. The lack of pragmatic adaptation within these topics has led to policies that sometimes fail to effectively respond to the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

2/n

Drug policy

One of the areas where right-wing parties have struggled with pragmatism is drug policy. Conservative ideology has often equated any form of drug use with moral decay, prompting strict prohibitions and punitive approaches. However, evidence from countries that have adopted a more pragmatic stance—such as Portugal, which decriminalized most drugs—shows reduced overdose rates, less burden on the criminal justice system, and better public health outcomes. Despite these successes, many right-leaning parties continue to oppose decriminalization or harm-reduction strategies, often overlooking the potential societal benefits of focusing on treatment rather than punishment.

3/n

Gun control

The topic of arms control also highlights the tension between right-wing principles and pragmatic policy-making. In countries like the United States, the right tends to emphasize the sanctity of the Second Amendment and individual rights to bear arms. This commitment often comes at the expense of public safety, as seen in rising incidents of gun violence. Pragmatism might suggest a need for increased regulation, background checks, or mental health screenings for gun owners—policies that enjoy wide public support, even among some conservatives. However, the inability to adjust to practical needs due to ideological rigidity perpetuates a cycle of ineffective legislation.

Read 22 tweets

Pete

@splendid_pete

Sep 25

🇭🇺📰 1/6

Recently, Index featured an exclusive interview with Evelin Vogel, the former partner of Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza Party. The context of this interview is significant given the turbulent history of Index. Once a flagship of independent journalism in Hungary, Index underwent substantial changes after its acquisition by oligarchs aligned with the Fidesz party. This shift sparked fears of editorial interference, which culminated in the mass resignation of its staff in 2020. Many journalists feared losing the ability to report freely under the influence of Fidesz. The news outlet has since been accused of shaping its coverage to benefit the ruling party. Moreover, Index had previously targeted Vogel’s family, specifically her mother, making her decision to give an interview to the same outlet especially personal. This history adds another layer to the narrative, raising questions about whether the interview is part of a broader political attack against Magyar.

index.hu/belfold/2024/0…

2/6

In the interview, Vogel accused Péter Magyar of lacking genuine political convictions and pursuing his political ambitions for personal gain rather than a desire for change in Hungary. She described their relationship as tumultuous, recounting moments where she felt emotionally manipulated and fearful. Vogel claimed that during the European Parliamentary campaign, Magyar was inconsistent in his public persona and private actions, furthering her belief that he was more concerned with his own status than the Tisza Party’s ideals.

3/6

Péter Magyar responded to these accusations through a detailed post on Facebook. He expressed deep disappointment over Vogel’s claims, revealing that he had financially supported her since 2023, even when they were not together. He went on to accuse her of attempting to blackmail him and the Tisza Party for 30 million forints and collaborating with Fidesz officials, including Kubatov Gábor, to tarnish his reputation. According to Magyar, Vogel’s motivations were part of a broader plan to destabilize his party, given its growing popularity as a political force in Hungary.

Read 6 tweets

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