💥#Informalpower at its best! In #Hungary, foreign companies are increasingly complaining about #hostile #takeover/massive violations of the law by authorities. Private property could be expropriated by the #Orban regime before, but this is a new level👉targeting German firms🧵👇 2.@FRonline reports a 2fold strategy. The 🇭🇺 govt imposes #specialtaxes in a discriminatory manner, prevents foreign firms from growing + fixes prices. Informally, the public prosecutor intimidates the employees w/ search or seizure. See more here👉 tinyurl.com/mwnvy9pb

💥A quick appetizer 🧵for my new article. #Chinese investments and #democratic #backsliding are mutually reinforcing in #Hungary. To further monopolize #political and #economic #power, the #Orbán govt continues utilising business provided by #Beijing bit.ly/3G4iICo 1/ After the 🇭🇺 MFA declared that it fully respects the “OneChinaPolicy”, the 🇨🇳 @catl_official announced the largest #industrial investment in #Hungary’s history. It stems from the strategy w/ which #Orbán committed himself to a China-friendly policy for pragmatic reasons 2/

History unfolded today in #Hungary: #Orbán got a #conservative #catholic political newcomer to fight in 2022. @markizaypeter now faces an unprecedented uphill battle since the regime undermined #democracy w/ #informalpower and created a grossly uneven playing field. Thread 🧵1/6 Orban built a hybrid #autocratic state governance in which #cronies/relatives are monopolizing state/EU funds for his benefit. He established additional sources through which he could cement political/economic power even if Fidesz will be replaced by the opposition.2/6