The Corona virus just had its first serious victim. The Hungarian democracy have fallen to the Corona virus. Viktor Orban have given himself new emergency powers, allowing him to rule with decree for an indefinite period of time. Very troubling if you ask.
While Orban isn’t exactly known for playing nice and Hungary having its fair share of problems due to being a satellite state of the Soviet Union, it’s still unsettling to see someone taking advantage of the Corona virus in such a way.
While not the first time a crisis have been used as an excuse for a power grab, it’s something we’re used to see in banana republics and other dictatorships. Not in a European country.
I’m just hoping the outcry from the European Union and other figure heads will be enough to get Hungary back on track again, but I fear it won’t. It will probably last until someone gets tired of him and topples him from power. One way or another. Just look at their neighbour Romania. It happened for Nicolae Ceaușescu just thirty years ago and it can happen again. It’s just a question of time.
However, the damage Orban can inflict until then, will take a long time too heal.
This is part of a series of posts I’ve written about the Corona virus and how it have impacted our society. Equal parts news, observations and thoughts. See the rest of the posts here.