Peter Techet sprach mit der französischen Tageszeitung „La Croix“ über die neue Kampagne, die die ungarische Regierung gegen Ursula von der Leyen und den Sohn von George Soros, Alex Soros lanciert hatte. Techet analysierte dabei auch die neuerliche Verfassungsänderung, welche einen ideologisch motivierten, verstärkten Schutz der „Souveränität“ vorsieht.
Der ganze Artikel steht nur Abonennt*innen frei zur Verfügung.
Bei den Wahlen in der Slowakei Ende September hat keine der antretenden Parteien der ungarischen Minderheit eine Chance, in das Parlament einzuziehen. Warum wird die ungarische Minderheit keine Vertretung im neuen slowakischen Parlament haben?
Unser Kollege Péter Techet über die Nachbarländer Österreichs:
On 19 September, Sophia Beiter attended the event “Young Danube Bridges” at the Collegium Hungaricum in Vienna. Organized by the regional cultural advisor from the Danube Swabian Central Musuem in Ulm, the seminar was part of the project “International Youth Encounters in the Danube Region” and aimed to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and ideas on key issues concerning the area.
Participants from Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova came together to learn about the EU Strategy for the Danube Region. The young people, who are all learning German, presented their countries, brought some typical food from their region and gathered knowledge about the Danube region during creative games and interactive activities. Alongside the IDM, several cultural institutes and embassies of the respective countries were present at the event.
Der Text wurde in der Ausgabe 2/2023 von Info Europa veröffentlicht. Die vollständige Ausgabe ist hier zu lesen.
Ein Spaziergang entlang der Donau an der Pest-Seite gestaltet sich äußerst schwierig: Autos, Lärm, Asphalt und CO2 beherrschen die Orte mit der besten Aussicht auf Budapest. Der obere und untere Damm werden als Straßen genutzt. Diese sind nur schwer zu überqueren, auf einer kilometerlangen Strecke gibt es nur vier Zebrastreifen. Wer ans Ufer gelangen will, muss über Metallstangen klettern und selbst dann finden Fußgänger*innen keinen Gehweg, sondern nur einen schmalen Trampelpfad. Cili Lohász wollte das nicht mehr hinnehmen. Sie ist Mitgründerin der NGO Valyo – ein Akronym aus den ungarischen Wörtern város (Stadt) und folyó (Fluss) – und setzt sich für die Demokratisierung von öffentlichen Räumen entlang der städtischen Donau ein.
»Wir wollen den Fluss in das Wohnzimmer der Budapester Bevölkerung verwandeln«, sagt die Geografin. Die Idee zu städtischen Interventionen kam ihr nach einer Radtour entlang der Donau. »In Wien konnten sich die Teilnehmer*innen in der Donau abkühlen, in Budapest war das nicht möglich.« Sie merkte, dass sie zwar regelmäßig an der Donau Rad fährt, jedoch keine Verbindung zum Fluss selbst hatte: »Ich saß fast nie am Ufer.« Das wollte sie ändern.
Brücken besetzen, um Brücken zu bauen
Neben Lohász gründeten ein Urbanist, ein IT-Spezialist und ein Soziologe Valyo im Jahr 2010. Sie alle hatten genug vom Kampf für ferne, globale Klimaziele und wollten etwas tun, das das Stadtleben tatsächlich verändert. 2011 kauften sie deswegen ein Zugticket nach Belgrad. »Es ist viel effektiver ein Foto mit Stränden am Fluss in Belgrad zu zeigen als in Wien«, erklärt Lohász. »Dann kann niemand einfach sagen: Die haben mehr Geld für die Umsetzung.« Die Valyo-Gründer*innen merkten, dass die Menschen in Belgrad eine intensive Verbindung zu ihren Flüssen, der Sava und Donau, hatten. Sie fanden Hausboote, Strände und Nachtclubs an den Ufern. Das brachte ihnen Inspiration für Budapest: »Wir mussten mit kleinen Aktionen starten. Hätten wir von Anfang an gesagt, dass Autos aus dem unteren Uferbereich verbannt werden sollen, wären wir für verrückt erklärt worden.«
Die erste Initiative war das sogenannte »Valyo-Ufer« an der Kettenbrücke in den Sommern 2012, 2013 und 2014 – ein Naherholungsgebiet mit bunten Bänken, Liegestühlen und Freizeitprogramm. »Es war relativ einfach zu organisieren«, sagt Lohász. »Wir holten die Genehmigung der Stadtverwaltung für die Nutzung des öffentlichen Raums ein. Unser Ziel war es, dass die Menschen diese Art der Ufernutzung später vermissen.« Die nächste Großaktion fand auf der Freiheitsbrücke statt. 2016 wurde wegen Bauarbeiten der Verkehr auf ihr für einen Monat gesperrt. »Schon nach ein paar Tagen belagerten Menschen die Brücke. Fußgänger*innen, Radfahrer*innen, manche machten sogar Yoga. Daran knüpften wir den darauffolgenden Sommer an.« Mit einer erfolgreichen Unterschriftenaktion ermöglichte Valyo eine autofreie Freiheitsbrücke an vier Wochenenden in 2017. »Alle Stadtbewohner*innen konnten mitgestalten«, erzählt Lohász. Die Events umfassten Tai-Chi-Kurse, Klassik- und Rockkonzerte, Malkurse, Theateraufführungen und Zirkusshows. »Die Menschen schufen einen demokratischen öffentlichen Raum, in dem alle sozialen Schichten und Altersgruppen vertreten waren.« Finanziert wurde dies über Crowdfunding. Laut Lohász zeigten die Aktionen, dass öffentliche Räume verschiedene Funktionen haben: »Man muss nicht immer zwischen Autobahn oder Spielplatz entscheiden. Derselbe Ort kann unter der Woche als Straße und an Wochenenden als Picknickplatz genutzt werden.« Gleichzeitig wollte Valyo die Kommerzialisierung der Plätze vermeiden: »Es sollte kein Konsumzwang herrschen, ein teures Foodtruckfestival kam für uns nicht in Frage.«
Politikum öffentlicher Raum
Ein großer Meilenstein in der Geschichte Valyos ist die Errichtung eines kostenlosen öffentlichen Strandes in Budapest in Zusammenarbeit mit der NGO Fák a Rómain (Bäume am Römischen Ufer). »Der Kieselstrand am Római-Ufer ist für mich auch eine symbolische Errungenschaft. Zu Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts galt die Donau als schmutziges und stinkendes Wasser, in das man nicht einmal seinen kleinen Zeh stecken sollte«, schildert Lohász. Tatsächlich war das Schwimmen in der Donau in Budapest seit 1973 verboten. Nachdem ein modernes Wasserreinigungssystem installiert wurde, und Testtage in 2019 und 2020 stattfanden, eröffnete die Stadt 2022 einen öffentlichen Strand mit Badeaufsicht. Das erste Mal seit fast 50 Jahren konnten die Budapester*innen wieder sicher in ihrem Stadtfluss schwimmen.
Der Strand ist beispielhaft für Valyos Zusammenarbeit mit dem Stadtrat. »Unsere Aufgabe ist es, das Potential bestimmter Veränderungen aufzuzeigen. Wenn sich unsere Versuche als erfolgreich erweisen, werden sie Teil der Stadtpolitik und wir können uns zurückziehen«, meint Lohász. Im Falle des Strandes bestünde ihre Rolle nur mehr darin, bedarfsweise mit ihrem Expert*innenwissen zu unterstützen. Und dieses ist breit gefächert. Unter den mittlerweile 30 Mitgliedern von Valyo finden sich verschiedenste Berufsfelder.
Lohász erkannte, dass es vor allem ab 2018 eine politische Wende mit Donau-Schwerpunkt gab. Der Fluss tauchte immer öfter in politischen Debatten auf und Bürgermeisterkandidat*innen begannen über die Donau und ihre enge Verbindung zur Stadt zu sprechen. Sie bemerkte auch den großen Erfolg des Projektes an der Freiheitsbrücke: Konkurrierende Parteien verwendeten Fotos der Brücke voller Menschen in ihren Kampagnen. Lohász wertet dies als Erfolg, denn Autofahrer*innen galten in Budapest stets als wichtige Zielgruppe für Politiker*innen. Mit dem Wechsel in der Stadtregierung von der nationalkonservativen Regierungspartei Fidesz zu einem Oppositionsbündnis wurde die Zusammenarbeit Lohász zufolge noch einfacher. Im Oktober 2022 unterzeichnete Valyo im Budapester Rathaus gemeinsam mit 17 weiteren Organisationen und Behörden eine Erklärung über die Zukunft des Ufers auf der Pest-Seite der Stadt. Unter den Unterzeichnern waren Organisationen, die sich aktiv für die alternative Gestaltung des unteren Damms aussprachen, und jene, die zuvor dagegen waren. Sie alle kamen zur Einigung, dass der Damm zugänglicher für Fußgänger*innen und Radfahrer*innen werden soll.
Probieren und Studieren
Stadtplanung ist ein sensibles Unterfangen, es müssen die Interessen verschiedenster Stakeholder*innen beachtet werden. »Bei der Gestaltung des Valyo-Ufers merkten wir, dass sogar Radfahrer*innen den Raum unterschiedlich nutzen, abhängig davon, ob sie Rennrad, Stadtrad, oder gemeinsam mit Kindern fahren«, resümiert Lohász. Valyos Ansatz nennt sich daher »taktischer Urbanismus«. Neue Ideen werden zuerst getestet, bevor man sie in großem Maßstab umsetzt. »So können wir sozialen Konsens erreichen.« Auch wenn ihr persönliches Ziel ein autofreies Ufer sei, weiß Lohász, dass sich dieses in weiter Ferne befindet. Phasenweise Autosperren würden aller dings Ideen liefern, wie diese Räume neu genutzt werden können. »Die Pandemie hat uns gezeigt, wie wichtig öffentliche Räume in einer überfüllten Stadt sind – Menschen sehnten sich danach, ihre Beine im Grünen zu vertreten. Dies hatte eine stärkere Wirkung als eine jahrelange Sensibilisierungskampagne.« Deswegen ist sich Lohász auch sicher: »Wenn wir wirklich wollen, finden wir für alle einen vernünftigen Kompromiss.«
Cili Lohász ist ausgebildete Biologie- und Chemielehrerin sowie Geografin. Sie arbeitete als Bildungsexpertin für Klimaanpassung und nachhaltige Energienutzung, bevor sie Valyo mitgründete.
Anita Gócza arbeitete 15 Jahre lang als Radio-Reporterin und Redakteurin für die nationale Radiostation in Ungarn. Seit 2011 ist sie als freie Journalistin mit Fokus auf kulturelle Themen sowie als Dozentin für Online- und Radiojournalismus an der Budapest Metropolitan University tätig.
“70 Years IDM – Locating the Future” in Budapest:
Keynote Speech:
by
Viktor ESZTERHAI,
Research Director of the HIIA
Followed by a discussion
with
Strahinja SUBOTIĆ
Programme Manager and Senior Researcher of the European Policy Centre
Sebastian SCHÄFFER
Managing Director of the Institut für den Donauraum und Mitteleuropa
Ferenc NÉMETH
Program Manager and Research Fellow of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs
Moderator:
Julianna ÁRMÁS
Research Fellow of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs
The event was held on
23 May 2023 (Tuesday) at 15:00 (CEST)
The venue of the event: 1062 Budapest, Bajza str. 44. Baruch palace.
For more information check out An Empty Promise to the Western Balkans? 20 years into the Thessaloniki Summit
„Was die FPÖ mit ‚Vorbild Orbán meint, haben wir im Ibiza-Video gesehen. Es gehe um die politische Kultur, wie man mit der Opposition umgehe, wie der Parlamentarismus zum „Bühnenstück“ verkommt und darum, wie man mit Dauerwahlkampf Stimmung für sich macht. Ein Vorbild für Populisten also.
Die FPÖ habe mit Orbán zudem ideologische Überschneidungen: Nationalismus, Fremdenfeindlichkeit, Familienpolitik. Es gehe den Blauen bei Auftritten mit Orbán aber auch darum, jede Bühne zu nutzen, sich bei Terminen mit Staatsoberhäuptern zu profilieren und sich als Regierungspartner ins Spiel zu bringen“
sagt Daniela Apaydin.
Das vollständige Interview können Sie hier lesen.
Two out of four Visegrad countries (V4) will hold parliamentary elections later this year. How may the elections in autumn change the power balance in the V4 and its standing in EU? How does the recent decision of Poland and Hungary to ban grain imports from Ukraine fit into our scenario building? Regardless of what scenario proves to be true, we should not expect that the format will cease to exist. Even though is true that it will operate in survival mode until all V4 countries are governed by parties sharing a common ideological line.
Transcript:
Two out of four Visegrad countries – also called the V4 – will hold parliamentary elections later this year. The snap elections in Slovakia are scheduled for 30 September 2023, and the parliamentary election in Poland will happen sometime between 15 October and 5 November 2023.
The outcomes of these elections can potentially shift the dynamics of cooperation within the grouping, the balance of power among partners, and the group’s standing in Europe. It is important to watch them as, although formerly dynamic, V4 cooperation has nowadays plunged to new lows. The V4 is now divided on at least two issues.
The first one is Russia’s aggression against Ukraine that led to a severing of ties between V4 countries. It is difficult to grasp how a relatively big country like Hungary bordering Ukraine could refuse to contribute its fair share to restoring peace in Europe, especially as others have assumed considerable risk in doing so. Likewise, how can Budapest flirt with China and even side with Russia on some matters?
The second issue is related to the state of democracy and in particular upholding the rule of law in Poland and Hungary. If not expressed explicitly, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are concerned about political developments in Warsaw and Budapest. What is more, they are losing patience with paying a price for a damage done by the Polish-Hungarian tandem on the V4’s reputation in Brussels.
Three scenarios for the future of V4 relations
Depending on which party coalitions will be governing in Warsaw and Bratislava, at least three scenarios are possible:
First, Hungary becomes even more isolated in the group. This could happen if the current opposition led by the Civic Platform wins the elections in Poland, and Slovakia selects a government similar to the one it has now. In this format, three out of four V4 partners will maintain unity on Russia policy, and will maintain a pro-Atlantic and pro-European course, paying more respect to democracy and rule of law at home. This scenario is not likely.
Second, the V4 is divided into two camps: the Czechs and the Slovaks on one side, and the Poles and the Hungarians on the other side. This would mean that the national interests from before the war in Ukraine are restored. For this to happen, the elections both in Poland and Slovakia would have to bring no changes in the political scene, and Hungary would have to make a U-turn on its Russia policy. This scenario is also not very likely.
Third, and the most likely scenario is that Prague gets isolated. This will happen when the current government of the united right led by the Law and Justice (PiS) wins the elections in Poland, and the Eurosceptic SMER-SD party of former Prime Minister Robert Fico forms the government, as the current polls seem to suggest. In this case, the Czech Republic will seal Prague’s pro-Western shift, strengthen its position in the EU, and keep implementing a foreign policy based on Vaclav Havel’s values, accentuating respect for human rights and civil society. The currently isolated Hungary would in this case receive support from Slovakia. It is not clear how the Polish-Hungarian relations would develop given their difference on Russia. However, any policy alignment is possible given the recent Polish-Hungarian unity in banning grains import from Ukraine.
Regardless of what scenario proves to be true, we should not expect that the format will cease to exist. In the three decades of the Visegrad group’s existence it has produced multidimensional cross-border ties and enhanced people to people contacts. It is true that it will operate in survival mode until all V4 countries are governed by parties sharing a common ideological line. But their relations and common history are too deep and too close to be easily given up on.
This might be of inerest to you:
Martinek, K. Brudzinska, In the Eye of the Storm: Political Turmoil in Slovakia, IDM Blog, 19 December 2022
Apaydin, Ukrainian-Hungarian relations are complicated, and not only because of the war. IDM Blog, 3 March 2023
Brudzinska for Judy Asks: Is Hungary a Reliable EU and NATO Member?, Strategic Europe Blog of Carnegie Europe, 30 March 2023
In her article for the IDM Blog Daniela Apaydin explains the context and the reasons behind the rhetoric skirmishes between Kyiv and Budapest.
In January the mayor of the Ukrainian city of Dnipro Boris Filatov, called Viktor Orbán a bitch-face. Before that statement hit the headlines of Hungarian media, the prime minister was quoted by reporters saying that Ukraine was a no man’s land comparable to Afghanistan. As a result, the Hungarian ambassador was summoned to Kyiv and diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries have sunk to a new low.
What is going on between Kyiv and Budapest? Do we even need to bother about Hungary’s position in the war at all?
First, let us not get focused on the clash of words between two alpha males and interpret it with the effects of toxic masculinity on politics. I suggest looking at the stories behind this dispute to learn about what is going on in Budapest.
One of these stories starts with the question: Why does Orbán provoke Ukraine and its political leadership while he pretends to be neutral? The simple answer is that Orbán’s position in this war is not neutral at all (Read the author’s analysis of Russia’s role in the Hungarian elections in 2022).
The context of Orbán’s statements always matter. In this case, he met mainly conservative reporters in a closed-door meeting. One of them was Rod Dreher from the US, an Orthodox Christian and author of books such as “The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation”. Dreher spent last summer in Budapest as a visiting fellow at the Danube Institute, a right-wing think tank with close ties to Fidesz. After the meeting, Dreher wrote a comprehensive report for “The American Conservative” in which he praised the intellectual skills of Orbán, saying “the man is deep. He thinks hard about this stuff, at the level of grand strategies and principles”.
In his article, Dreher repeats the statements by Orbán about the war in Ukraine. Content-wise this was nothing new to observers, yet the clarity of the message is intriguing. According to them, Ukraine has lost the war anyway. Russia is too strong and influential. Let us not waste any further energy on this war and let us exploit current tensions for capitalizing nationalist politics. Calling Ukraine a no-man’s land echoes well among right-wing conservative circles with little knowledge of the region and its history. It also fits to Orbán’s image in these circles as a courageous statesman and pragmatic politician who knows what is best for his nation and acts accordingly. Similar reactions came from Austria, where the controversial platform “exxpress” covered the meeting with Orbán in Budapest. In times when old alliances (such as Poland) have been frozen due to opposing positions on the war, Orbán regularly reaches out to his transatlantic allies.
If you followed Orbán’s annual State of the Nation speech on February 18, you heard a slightly different tone from the prime minister. Russia’s military power would not be ready to attack a NATO member in the near future, Orbán stated. His assessment of Russia’s power in a closed-door meeting with US reporters differs from his State of the Nation speech. However, the consequence of holding on to the “Hungary first” approach, remains the same: “This is not our war”, said the prime minister once again. “It would not be morally right to put the interests of Ukraine before those of Hungary.”
Central European entanglements
The second story behind this dispute between Ukraine and Hungary traces its roots back into Central European history. Dnipro’s mayor argued that “it takes a special talent to be hated everywhere from Romania and Slovakia to Serbia and Ukraine. The Treaty of Trianon is, after all, a punishment for your historical meanness.” Filatov’s choice of words is apparently due to an emotional, exceptional situation during war. The reference to Trianon, however, sheds light on an unresolved Central European issue between Hungary and Ukraine that stems from a long time before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The role of minorities in the region is often neglected by western observers when analyzing current conflicts. Yet the threats of the war experienced by the Hungarian minority in the Transcarpathian region poses a real challenge to Orbán’s narrative of staying out for the sake of Hungarians. In his State of the Nation speech the prime minister only shortly addressed the Hungarians in Ukraine by emphasizing their heroic sacrifices on the frontline.
Hungary first, yes, but in corruption
Finally, the recent rhetorical clashes should be seen in the media’s tendency to focus on outrage while missing the actual scandals: in February, Hungary was ranked further down by Transparency International and is seen as the most corrupt country in the EU. Inflation in Hungary is at an historic peak and severely threatens economic stability. Furthermore, the fight between the Commission and EU treaties and the government in Budapest has once more picked up speed as millions in Erasmus funds have been frozen – with tremendous risks not only for students and academia, but also for the stability of the government’s tribalist system of distributing (EU) money among its allies in business.
Summing up, for some the recent clash of alpha males might be an entertaining headline. Others prefer focusing on the stories behind rhetorical escalations. Orbán’s ongoing balancing act of Hungary’s foreign policy – between the fact that the country is a member of the EU and NATO and its reluctance to stop spreading Kremlin propaganda and keeping strong economic ties with Russia – will drive the country even further away from those who demand a clear stand on the war. Orbán is convinced that he is representing the interest of the nation, yet it is questionable if he honestly considers Hungarians in Ukraine as actually part of this nation. It is certainly not in their interest if their home country becomes a no-man’s land.
The prime minister’s arrangement with Putin puts the country into the position of the Kremlin’s puppet within the EU. Connoisseurs of history know that such loyalties are fragile and that the stronger partner can easily cut ties once they are no longer useful to him. In the case of Hungary, sooner or later the country might have to come back for support from Brussels, Warsaw, or Bratislava. Perhaps then, Orbán’s EU bashing and lack of solidarity towards his neighbors could easily backfire. Ultimately, future crises demand strong alliances in the region, by which time nationalists in the US might have long since forgotten their praised statesman in Budapest.
President Joe Biden is coming to Poland this week, almost exactly one year after the Russian invasion in Ukraine started. On 21 February Biden was also in Kyiv on a surprise visit, for which he used Rzeszów in Poland to transfer to Ukraine. But the visit, despite being symbolic, has some domestic and regional implications.
According to the information available today, in Poland President Biden (POTUS) will hold bilateral talks with the leaders of the ruling camp (including the Polish President, Andrzej Duda), make a public address to the Poles (at the symbolic place near the Royal Castle in Warsaw), and take part in the meeting of the so-called Bucharest Nine, a group of nine NATO countries in Eastern Europe. Just as it happened on 26 March 2022, the upcoming visit will focus on security issues, and its underlying theme will be the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Biden will be the first US president to visit Poland again in less than a year after the previous one, although Barack Obama visited Poland three times: in 2011, 2014, and 2016. Poland was chosen as a destination for the POTUS visit because it has become a hub for international support for Ukraine. Nowadays Poland is a territory through which Western supplies are entering Ukraine, be they humanitarian or military. Moreover, the country is important as it received one of the biggest numbers of refugees (around 950 thousands so far) among EU countries and in the region. Apart from Poland, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria are hosting significant numbers of refugees, but they are significantly lower: 432 thousands and 147 thousands respectively.
Poland is also one of the most hawkish countries in Europe as regards Russia on the international stage. It has proposed far reaching sanctions and other measures that NATO/EU allies could implement (such as the transfer of MIG-29s). Along with the Baltic republics, Poland was also one of the biggest and most active proponents of the EU membership candidate status for Ukraine.
The visit is not free from certain controversies, however. Many Poles as well as commentators in the West do not like the fact that Biden will probably strategically turn a blind eye to the policies of Poland’s ruling government that deteriorate the rule of law and democracy at home. The visit will strengthen the image of PiS as a party that has a special relationship with the US, while the country positions itself on the margins of the EU. In fact, Mr Biden once criticised Poland, listing it alongside Belarus and Hungary as examples of “the rise of totalitarian regimes in the world.” By contrast, ahead of Mr Biden’s visit, White House spokesman John Kirby rightly applauded Warsaw for being “a strident ally and a tremendous supporter of Ukraine.”
In short, the PiS government will be able to present themselves as those who improved Poland’s position in the alliance, and this in turn would play in the government’s favour during the election year. It is important for the PiS government to present the relations with the US as better than ever before because the politicians of the Polish right want to be seen by the domestic audience as world leaders. President Biden’s second visit to Poland in less than a year will only strengthen this view.
In the region, Poland is already perceived as a country that has a leading role in supporting Ukraine. Moreover, while Poland perceives itself as a natural leader in Central Europe, this is not the view of countries like the Czech Republic or the Baltic States. The backsliding of democracy at home does not strengthen Warsaw’s role in the region.
One of the important platforms for regional cooperation – the Visegrad Group – is already struggling to speak with a coherent voice on a Ukraine policy as Hungarian policy has drifted away from Polish, Czech and Slovak approaches. The Czech Republic and Slovakia are also distancing themselves from Hungary and Poland at the EU level, and are more and more interested in engaging with Austria in the Slavkov/Austerliz format. Warsaw is also a supporter of the Three Seas Initiative, a platform of cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe, supported by the US, but which is not so popular, for example in Slovakia. The only platform through which Poland can showcase its leadership is the Bucharest Nine, which became the vehicle of regional governments to demonstrate their interest in helping Ukraine. We should not expect many changes in internal dynamics in this grouping given President Biden’s presence in Warsaw. But without Warsaw reversing the backsliding of the rule of law and democracy at home, Poland will not be seen by other countries in the region as a “leader” in Central Europe.
In a public speech, Biden intends to express his thanks to Polish society for the universal, direct support for refugees and humanitarian aid sent to Ukraine. This is, of course, a praiseworthy attitude, but it is rather the society itself that should be credited for extending a helping hand to Ukrainians. The Polish government’s record is more mixed in this respect. Recognition from the US president will allow the authorities to dismiss accusations of inhumane treatment of migrants on the border with Belarus.
When it comes to the region, President Biden’s visit to Warsaw underlines that fact that NATO’s eastern flank has finally found its voice as it proved to be right about Russia’s intention towards Ukraine in the past. However, as Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský told Politico, Western countries are still “much stronger” on the economic and military front” and they have the financial capacity to help Ukraine.
In short, this visit is important and symbolic but fraught with national and regional sensitivities.
Daniela Apaydin (IDM) ordnete am 13. November live für Puls24 die Position Ungarns im aktuellen Disput mit der EU-Kommission über Korruption Rechtsstaatlichkeit und EUGelder ein. Ist die jüngste Einigung ein Sieg oder eine Niederlage für Viktor Orbán? Wie reagiert Ungarn auf den Katar Korruptionsfall im EU Parlament? Und was ist noch zu erwarten?
Hier gibt’s das Interview zum Nachschauen.
