Before Orban, before Netanyahu, Erdogan, Trump and Putin, there was Nicolae Ceaucescu. Ceaucescu came to power as a reformer, an "indpendent thinker", succeeding a staid apparatchik named Gheorge Gheorgiu Dej. Like Orban, Ceaucescu had studied the system, and slowly dismantled even the Potemkin-like trappings of the "rule of law". He made Romania his own fiefdom. As the nations around him-Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, were falling to the long dormant winds of change, Ceaucescu remained defiant, confident that Romania would be the exception, even outlasting the USSR itself. Then, the apparatchiks turned on him, the Army no longer took his orders and the people rose. What took Ceaucescu years to build, started to get unraveled. Although there remains, among the Romanian people, a nostalgia for his rule, more recent attempts by authoritarians to regain power have fallen short. Still, what happens next door on April 12, is something that men like Calin Georgescu are watching closely.
Trump-and Vladimir Putin, are watching closely, also.
That’s a very insightful point, and a really important reminder. These systems can seem immovable until the moment they begin to unravel. What happens on April 12 will matter far beyond Hungary’s borders.
Having rooted in Transylvania, I have always followed closely the developments in Romania, you have just given a speedy overview. Orbán's future will certainly influence the development on Romania and elsewhere. We in Budapest don't start forecasting "if he wins again". We go to vote, and the victory of Péter Magyar will liberate us, and effects on our neighbours nearby and far away.
Deeply insightful and prescient. The slow destruction of democracy by executive judicial and legislative increments. Makes me even more concerned for next Sunday. Let’s hope for humanity Orban and with him his autocratic crooks in the US live to see their defeat handed to them by the people!
This essay underscores why the Trump Administration is so vested in keeping Orbán in power. If he should fall, it sends a signal that these regimes can be undone within a democratic framework. I am hoping the Hungarians are able to overcome.
Thank you, Zsolt. I’m very glad it resonated. Now we keep our fingers crossed and wait for Hungary to do something historic. I can´t believe the election is only a week away; it feels surreal.
Sadly, I recognized what was happening in America too, long before Trump was elected president for the second time. I, and many others, tried to explain and warn everyone about the authoritarian plan that he would be implementing if elected. But they were already suppressing most of the information from getting out, so the word didn’t spread like it organically would in a normal sense. So, here we are.
I believe that once the country becomes more aware of what is happening, the people will ultimately fight back as many are already doing so. 🙏🏻
Having said that, I hope everyone will pay attention to your words and use them as a forewarning of what could happen if they don’t fight back. Someone told me that in Hungary, inflation is at 26%. In the US, it is climbing steadily ever since trump came into office. It went from 2% to 4.6% , if I remember the numbers correctly.
Anyway, sorry so long again.
PS: I have a little something for you that should bring a smile on your face. 🥰 I’m not too sure what they are actually saying here, (maybe you will) but I think it is something like “no to Russia”. 😁✊❤️
Thank you, Lynn, that’s so kind, and please never apologise for writing a lot. I always appreciate your comments. You’re right that many people saw this coming and tried to warn others. Even now, I think clarity matters because once people truly see what is happening, they do start to push back.
And please do send me the video in chat, I’d really love to see it!
Ooh 😮 it is not allowing me to put the video in the comments. I will try to send it another way. I don’t have the link to it, only the video. I will try to find a link.
Before Orban, before Netanyahu, Erdogan, Trump and Putin, there was Nicolae Ceaucescu. Ceaucescu came to power as a reformer, an "indpendent thinker", succeeding a staid apparatchik named Gheorge Gheorgiu Dej. Like Orban, Ceaucescu had studied the system, and slowly dismantled even the Potemkin-like trappings of the "rule of law". He made Romania his own fiefdom. As the nations around him-Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, were falling to the long dormant winds of change, Ceaucescu remained defiant, confident that Romania would be the exception, even outlasting the USSR itself. Then, the apparatchiks turned on him, the Army no longer took his orders and the people rose. What took Ceaucescu years to build, started to get unraveled. Although there remains, among the Romanian people, a nostalgia for his rule, more recent attempts by authoritarians to regain power have fallen short. Still, what happens next door on April 12, is something that men like Calin Georgescu are watching closely.
Trump-and Vladimir Putin, are watching closely, also.
That’s a very insightful point, and a really important reminder. These systems can seem immovable until the moment they begin to unravel. What happens on April 12 will matter far beyond Hungary’s borders.
Having rooted in Transylvania, I have always followed closely the developments in Romania, you have just given a speedy overview. Orbán's future will certainly influence the development on Romania and elsewhere. We in Budapest don't start forecasting "if he wins again". We go to vote, and the victory of Péter Magyar will liberate us, and effects on our neighbours nearby and far away.
THAT is the spirit which my gut tells me will prevail next Monday, and beyond.
Deeply insightful and prescient. The slow destruction of democracy by executive judicial and legislative increments. Makes me even more concerned for next Sunday. Let’s hope for humanity Orban and with him his autocratic crooks in the US live to see their defeat handed to them by the people!
Thank you, Betty!
This essay underscores why the Trump Administration is so vested in keeping Orbán in power. If he should fall, it sends a signal that these regimes can be undone within a democratic framework. I am hoping the Hungarians are able to overcome.
Péter,
A meticulous and exact analysis. I have no correction to add this time. Just keep my fingers crossed, and trust in victory.
Best,
Zsolt
Thank you, Zsolt. I’m very glad it resonated. Now we keep our fingers crossed and wait for Hungary to do something historic. I can´t believe the election is only a week away; it feels surreal.
Very well said! 🏆
Sadly, I recognized what was happening in America too, long before Trump was elected president for the second time. I, and many others, tried to explain and warn everyone about the authoritarian plan that he would be implementing if elected. But they were already suppressing most of the information from getting out, so the word didn’t spread like it organically would in a normal sense. So, here we are.
I believe that once the country becomes more aware of what is happening, the people will ultimately fight back as many are already doing so. 🙏🏻
Having said that, I hope everyone will pay attention to your words and use them as a forewarning of what could happen if they don’t fight back. Someone told me that in Hungary, inflation is at 26%. In the US, it is climbing steadily ever since trump came into office. It went from 2% to 4.6% , if I remember the numbers correctly.
Anyway, sorry so long again.
PS: I have a little something for you that should bring a smile on your face. 🥰 I’m not too sure what they are actually saying here, (maybe you will) but I think it is something like “no to Russia”. 😁✊❤️
(Sending in the next post)
Thank you, Lynn, that’s so kind, and please never apologise for writing a lot. I always appreciate your comments. You’re right that many people saw this coming and tried to warn others. Even now, I think clarity matters because once people truly see what is happening, they do start to push back.
And please do send me the video in chat, I’d really love to see it!
Ooh 😮 it is not allowing me to put the video in the comments. I will try to send it another way. I don’t have the link to it, only the video. I will try to find a link.
You are so right! 💯
Thank you for your kind words. 🤗
And yes, definitely I will send you this video. It makes me smile and I think it will make you smile too. 🥰
You said, “send it in the chat”, and I thought “wow, why didn’t I think of that?!” Lol 😂 Probably because I haven’t used the chat function before.
I am still learning how Substack works. 🤦♀️ Thanks to you, today I just figured it out. So, to You I will send my first DM. 😁
I think you will love it! 🥰 ✨
It’s an amazing army of Hungarian citizens who are following Orban around everywhere and protesting. The crowd size is huge! 🔥
Power to the people! ✊
https://substack.com/@diamondgirl007/note/c-239224301?r=ra52b&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Thank you, Peter, for that very clear analysis of the ‘pattern’ that has emerged over the last 30-40 years or so.
Thank you, Jonathan. I really appreciate your kind words.
Thank you for your encouragement. I, as a small fry in a giant ocean, appreciate your words very much.
Thank you so much!!
You're welcome!