Von der Leyen uses Orbán defeat to push for end of veto in EU foreign policy
1–10 of 64 posts
Re: Von der Leyen uses Orbán defeat to push for end of veto in EU foreign policy
#2The EU has a problem with a lack of legitimisation of the whole political construct and other power players know about this weakness. The degree of freedom in political decision is strongly inhibited.
This wouldn't solve any problems either, on the contrary. Personally I don't feel like a EU citizen. It is like being a citizen of a bureaucratic monster that serves no specific function. That tries to justify its existence not through being a guardian of common values, but a bureaucracy of not-quite-experts.
I genuinely wonder about people that feel patriotic about the EU. I have nothing against them, I just don't want to share the same house.
Orban was someone to point the finger to for what feels like decades. To see this result and extract a mission to extend EU powers is delusional in my opinion.
Re: Von der Leyen uses Orbán defeat to push for end of veto in EU foreign policy
#3The EU has a problem with a lack of legitimisation of the whole political construct and other power players know about this weakness. The degree of freedom in political decision is strongly inhibited. This wouldn't solve any problems either, on the contrary. Personally I don't feel like a EU citizen. It is like being a citizen of a bureaucratic monster that serves no specific function. That tries to justify its exist…
I think the EU is just a bunch of countries in a trenchcoat. The main reason for this is the lack of mobility between countries. Each country has its own language, and more importantly social security, benefits, taxes, and the properties are much more expensive compared to salaries than pretty much anywhere in the world.
So either you're a long term renter with locked in low rates, or own an apt, so you have very little incentive to move. People who do move usually come from a poorer part to a richer part, and once in their lives, or they move to a warmer country like Spain when they retire.
Re: Von der Leyen uses Orbán defeat to push for end of veto in EU foreign policy
#4The EU has a problem with a lack of legitimisation of the whole political construct and other power players know about this weakness. The degree of freedom in political decision is strongly inhibited. This wouldn't solve any problems either, on the contrary. Personally I don't feel like a EU citizen. It is like being a citizen of a bureaucratic monster that serves no specific function. That tries to justify its exist…
There could also hardly be a worse representative than von der Leyen. She is the perfect example of an incredibly unpopular and even incapable (she did terribly as the German minister of defense) but cunning career politician who SOMEHOW made it to a top position in the EU.
Re: Von der Leyen uses Orbán defeat to push for end of veto in EU foreign policy
#5> Orbán, the EU’s most autocratic leader […] lost by a decisive margin in Sunday’s vote, amid the highest turnout in Hungary’s democratic history.
What a ridiculous sentence. He’s an autocrat, but he’s out of power after losing a democratic election. Which is it?
Words have meaning.
Re: Von der Leyen uses Orbán defeat to push for end of veto in EU foreign policy
#6It is actually a good idea.
Re: Von der Leyen uses Orbán defeat to push for end of veto in EU foreign policy
#7> Orbán, the EU’s most autocratic leader […] lost by a decisive margin in Sunday’s vote, amid the highest turnout in Hungary’s democratic history. What a ridiculous sentence. He’s an autocrat, but he’s out of power after losing a democratic election. Which is it? Words have meaning.
It was election, but Hungarian democracy is severely lacking and barely a democracy. A miracle happened, because too many people were too pissed at Orban. That does not make the country non autocratic, it means miracle happened and now new guys has all that power.
Re: Von der Leyen uses Orbán defeat to push for end of veto in EU foreign policy
#8> Orbán, the EU’s most autocratic leader […] lost by a decisive margin in Sunday’s vote, amid the highest turnout in Hungary’s democratic history. What a ridiculous sentence. He’s an autocrat, but he’s out of power after losing a democratic election. Which is it? Words have meaning.
I think there's quite a difference between calling someone an autocrat vs an autocratic leader, the latter being more of a characterization of how they are leading, which is I imagine why those words were chosen.
Re: Von der Leyen uses Orbán defeat to push for end of veto in EU foreign policy
#9It is actually a good idea.
I see no path where this would be a good idea unless you want to create a group where everyone thinks the same. If Hungary is a bit of a flip flop in terms of democracy then either they have to focus their attention on improving living conditions there so people realize the value of their alliance (if that's the purpose, improving living conditions) or realize that Hungary isn't a good fit for this type of alliance and kick it out.
Removing veto power probably makes it more likely that the next Orban pulls them out of the EU entirely which might not be in the interest of the alliance.
Re: Von der Leyen uses Orbán defeat to push for end of veto in EU foreign policy
#10> Orbán, the EU’s most autocratic leader […] lost by a decisive margin in Sunday’s vote, amid the highest turnout in Hungary’s democratic history. What a ridiculous sentence. He’s an autocrat, but he’s out of power after losing a democratic election. Which is it? Words have meaning.
I think there's quite a difference between calling someone an autocrat vs an autocratic leader, the latter being more of a characterization of how they are leading, which is I imagine why those words were chosen.
How does an autocratic leader lose an election, can Xi lose an election?