Viktor Orban is the Hungarian Donald Trump, and as such, has faced an onslaught of attacks from every angle of the political establishment. Former President Barack Obama issued a warning to Europe that leaders like Orban are attempting to implement “illiberal democracy,” and therefore, the people should vote as the establishment sees fit.
“I’ve become increasingly concerned about the rising wave of authoritarianism sweeping the globe,” Obama claimed in a video message. “We’re seeing politicians target civil society, undermine freedom of the press, weaponize the justice system. And no one is being spared. Even countries that thought they were immune from wholesale assaults on democracy now understand that we’re all part of one struggle.”
While Obama did not mention Orban by name, the implication were clear and the two men had ongoing disputes during Obama’s time in Washington. Orban’s political director Balazs Orban responded by stating that Obama is “not concerned about democracy—he is concerned about preserving the dominance of the liberal elite.” Orban himself accused Obama of attempting to “change the fundamental law of Hungary and delete Christian and national values from it.” The Hungarian leader said it was simply “bizarre” that “the leading power of the free world wanted to force [Hungary] to change our constitution according to a globalist liberal concept.”
“A big challenge is that the governments themselves, whether center-right or center-left, were losing touch with people and weren’t delivering on some of the basic hopes and dreams of people, so you get frustrated with government, period,” the former president said. “That obviously then opens the door for right-wing populism, anti-immigrant sentiment, anger, grievances.”
Yet another example of the political elite attempting to skew the narrative. They think the people are the problem, not the government. Obama is deflecting by stating that the government failed to deliver on the “basic hopes and dreams of people” when the promises have been beyond the scope of fiscal reality. Politicians overpromised everything from pensions, social programs, health care, perpetual wars, free education, green energy and financed it all with debt. Then the government comes after the people to pay for that debt while continuing to increase their promises.
The cost of living crisis is highlighting government’s extreme fiscal irresponsibility. If there were bountiful jobs, housing, etc. then the people would be less angered over spending on other areas like migrants. Politicians sold out their nations to consolidated powers like the EU, their plans suffered, and now the people are voting for politicians with nationalist ideals who are willing to put their nation first.
Sorry, Obama, but this is not 2008, when you could smooth over the situation with speeches about hope and new beginnings.