Yday, 650km to the east from #MSC23 in Budapest’s fancy Várkert Bazár 🇭🇺 PM #Orbán delivered his grandiose state of the nation speech

Quick #Thread 🧵 on what caught my attention as I am reading it - buckle your seats 🎡🔍
1/16
hungarytoday.hu/viktor-orban-h… Already the greetings: 2 ex-Presidents (the current one was at the MSC) w/ their wifes, Mr. Speaker & “leaders of Hungarian communities from beyond our borders”

State of the country speech also aimed at ethnic HU minorities around 🇭🇺? (even if many dual citizenships)

2/16

💥Few days after #ViktorOrban visited Moscow, #Hungary upping its game over EU's sanctions vs #Russia

The sanctions list can only be rolled over by unanimous vote

Deadline for renewal: 15 Sept

#Thread on why this is not 'business as usual' 1/8

@EditaHrdaEU @SFischer_EU

https://twitter.com/RikardJozwiak/status/1567121720418488321

2/ When EU agreed Russia oil embargo, HU used its veto to get exemptions for pipeline imports

It could point out to a) vital econ interests b) similar impact on two other CE landlocked countries

This time: HU is alone

#Slovakia update:
▪️ Five weeks ago fmr SK PM bypassed his coalition partners ordering shipments of #SputnikV
▪️ 200k doses delivered then tested by SK Medicine Institute which finds out: Q of #vaccine not identical to those reviewed by @TheLancet 1/2

dennikn.sk/2333976/sputni… Nat'l agency advise: wait for #EMA checks & authorization. Result = stalemate. 🇸🇰 has 200.000 doses ready to distribution, no permission to use it. Reshuffled gov't has to navigate next steps. Perhaps it will offer some to 🇦🇹 @sebastiankurz ?🤔2/2

@swheaton @dgapev @valasekt