Very few people outside Hungary speak Hungarian, so practically all of the day-to-day news from that country passes us by. But an interesting scandal has been developing there over the last few months, which arguably merits wider attention.
As you may remember, Hungary held an election earlier this year, which was won decisively by Viktor Orbán’s Fidez Party. Their main opposition was the Everybody’s Hungary Movement, led by Péter Márki-Zay.
Several organisations criticised the elections on the grounds that the incumbent, Viktor Orbán, used elements of the state apparatus to promote his own party. For example, the OSCE described the elections as “well-run” and “competitive”, while noting that they were “marred by the pervasive overlapping of government and ruling coalition’s messaging”.
However, the scandal to which I referred actually concerns the opposition.
In a podcast discussion in August, opposition leader Péter Márki-Zay stated that his movement had recently received money “from America”, which was used to pay some of the campaign bills from the recent elections. The money, he explained, had come through an organisation called Action for Democracy, which was set up in February.
These comments sparked controversy, since Hungarian electoral law prohibits parties from receiving money from abroad. In Hungary, funding for election campaigns is provided to each party through the state budget. Donations from private citizens are also allowed; though above a certain amount, the donor’s name must be made public.
When pressed for comment, Action for Democracy told Hungarian media they did not give any campaign funding, and only supported the opposition movement “as a civic organisation”. Yet critics were not persuaded by this defence. As one noted:
The Hungarian leader of the organization, Dávid Korányi, previously admitted that the Hungarian election inspired the establishment of the organization, and in relation to their operation, he emphasized that “we are trying to strengthen democratic forces in the elections of battleground states, including Hungary.” In other words, in March, the AFD was defined by its executive as an organization specifically focused on elections.
On the other hand, the opposition movement explicitly describes itself as a “movement”, rather than a political party, so the relevant prohibition against foreign funding may not apply. In any case, an investigation was launched owing to the apparent irregularities.
Although that investigation is ongoing, some initial findings have been declassified by the Hungarian parliament. Investigators discovered that the opposition movement received a much larger sum of money than initially believed – 1.8 billion forints (about $4.5 million) – and that some of it arrived before the elections took place.
Although the declassified documents comprise only part of the investigators’ report, they hint at the possibility of U.S. government involvement. Included among them is the following diagram, indicating the various individuals and organisations that are linked to Action for Democracy:
On the right-hand side is the National Endowment for Democracy – an organisation funded by the U.S. government and about which one of its former presidents said, “A lot of what we do today was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA”. Little additional information is included in the declassified documents, aside from the following statement:
In 2014, the management of NED assessed that the Hungarian domestic political situation had become so worrying that an intensive thinking process began about resuming their activities in Hungary. If organization decides to re-appear in Hungary, does not wish to open an office in Hungary, rather, it is looking for Hungarian partners through whom it can implement its goals.
It’s therefore unclear whether the National Endowment for Democracy was involved in funding the opposition movement, or whether any claims to the effect are mere speculation.
Also of interest is Action for Democracy itself. As shown in the diagram above, the organisation’s advisory council includes several prominent liberal interventionists like Anne Applebaum and Francis Fukyama, as well as the former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, Wesley Clark.
On the “Where do we help” section of its website, Action for Democracy lists five “key battlegrounds”, which all happen to be countries with nationalist/populist governments.
Based on the make-up of its advisory council, and the list of five countries on which it claims to focus, one could be forgiven for thinking Action for Democracy is less concerned with promoting democracy than with opposing national conservatism. Indeed, both “diversity” and “inclusion” are featured among the organisation’s “values and beliefs”.
Whether Action for Democracy has any goals beyond the ideological remains to be seen. According to this Hungarian documentary, which has an obvious pro-Fidez slant, the organisation may represent certain business interests that would benefit from a change of government in Budapest (such as U.S. LNG companies). However, the evidence provided is weak.
This scandal may fizzle out into nothing: an anti-conservative organisation in one country donated money to an anti-conservative organisation in another, and did so through the proper legal channels. On the other hand, it may prove to be America’s latest attempt to remove a government of which it disapproves – and in a NATO member state, no less.
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Cue war drums against Iran…
Russia proxy war not going well
China too scary and too in bed with the US cleptocracy.
Iran, perfect.
For the 5 not very skeptical DS subscribers. I assume that you think the idea that this will be used to ramp up the likelihood of violent action against Iran (MAWR WAR!!!), do take a look at the Zero-hedge collection of news on the assassination attempt of a civilian by a Lebanese youth (as far as we know and do remember Mossad regularly recruits Lebanese citizens).
“This high-profile assassination attempt on a well-known British-Indian writer comes at a moment tensions are already long on edge between Washington and Tehran, also as attempts to restore the JCPOA nuclear deal are hanging by a thread.”
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/salman-rushdies-attacker-new-jersey-man-shia-extremist-iranian-sympathies
Of course it may be that some of the down-voters thought my comment in poor taste?
Yes possibly i can agree with that critique, however, imagine if A Muslim writer in the US decided to write a book about JC being a homosexual with his disciples and secretly having orgies with Mary Magdolin, or that Mary herself had an extra marital affair to birth JC.
Do you think for one minute anyone would be surprised if some nutcase Christians put a bounty on his head? I do not for a minute think it would be justified, only not surprising. And who exactly is telling us that there is a threat to JKR? Just seems too convenient timing to think this wont be linked to Iranian State and used as an excuse to either attack Iran or prevent a renewal of the Nuclear deal (which Israel definitely does not want).
Anyway let me know your gripe. I will be nice.
Cowards
cowards
I’ve got no gripe. I never really had much time for JKR but I have warmed to her. She keeps pissing people off and doesn’t care or back down.
I don’t understand the downvote from you then (I assume that was why you responded).
I have not made any point about JKL, who has been an isolated powerful voice for women standing against the Trans nonsense.
MY point is that the very dubious set of tweets of one random unverified person from Pakistan threatening JKR seems like a convenient inflamation of tensions against Iran at a very critical time for Iran and a useful time for Israel and US neocons.
After all the crap we have seen these past two years, we should now all realise that our MSM lie and manipulate people relentlessly in the cause of powerful groups, it seems fairly obvious that one should question who is responsible for Rushdis vile assasination attempt. How many patsies do the PTB have to be caught executing before skeptical minds question the news and who’s interests get served by the narrative we are given?
Is this not the Daily Sceptic?
I only ever downvote obvious trolling or spam, certainly not your post,
Engage or ignore.
You may well be right.
Good policy.
We shall see. Everything is on steroids right now, so it wont take long.
Ditto.
I don’t downvote and agree – “engage or ignore.”
I have a couple of trolls who follow me round on here, as does Mogs and one or two others and whatever we post always attracts at least two downvotes. Those doing the downvoting are pretty much like performing seals and utterly pathetic in their predictability. At least they have paid a fiver for their fun.
I third that regarding ‘disliking’ a comment. “Engage or ignore” is my rule of thumb also. But don’t forget hux, you don’t need to be signed in or have an account ( just like the site in its previous form ) to like/dislike comments. What the enthusiastic saddos unfortunately don’t realise about me is that my motivation for posting has nothing to do with trying to be popular. So if they think that makes one iota of difference they are delusional. People-pleasing is not my thing in life generally and certainly not online.
Wonder if the DS team forgot to load the Round-up last night…
Thanks Mogs. Actually I thought you had to be a subscriber in order to like / dislike posts; this seems very unfair.
“What the enthusiastic saddos unfortunately don’t realise about me is that my motivation for posting has nothing to do with trying to be popular.”
Wholeheartedly agree. I come here for the variety of opinions. The fact that others here present different perspectives on a subject helps to open my eyes, if you will. I like to think I offer something similar in return. If I want ‘mainstream’ I know where to go to find it. I come here and to TCW, Off-Guardian, UK Column and lots of others because the discourse is decidedly “outside the box.” Being a contrarian by nature – awkward bastard to many – means sites like DS are where I feel at home. How did you put it?
“When you find your tribe…”
To each, his own.
I don’t often bother, but I do sometimes downvote tendentious nonsense.
Oh JK is great. She’s got lady balls.
I seem to remember a story about how the “US” branded some countries evil, which just happened to be the three that didn’t have a central bank.
For myself, it is more important to me that people oppose the lockdown narrative than how “sceptical” they are, although obviously there are plenty of other things that should be questioned (who exactly is calling the shots in the “US” these days btw?).
I think things could get interesting when Iran and Saudi Arabia both have nuclear weapons – especially if there is a revolution in Saudi Arabia.
(Btw do they still have police in New York?).
Lockdowns are just one of many tells that the globalists are at war with us. As such, we should, in my view, be on the lookout for every manipulation and prevarication that these Luciferian vampires throw at us.
The Ukraine conflict was the one that immediately followed Lock-downs and Vaccines.
We can clearly see that there are other ones brewing:
Drouts
Food shortages
Energy shortages
Cost of Living crisis
Hate Speech bills and Online Identification
Terrorism and Facial recognition Technology
This is a multipronged war on humanity by multiple power brokers who lie, use the security state, media and government puppets to manipulate, steal and kill us. EVERY NEWS ITEM MUST BE QUESTIONED. It is either distaraction or manipulation.
Lockdowns are the tip of a giant nasty iceberg of a New World Order.
I must say I’m worried about all that land being bought up by notorious eugenicist farmer Gates. He’ll still be able to buy popularity among many people who aren’t awake though, I met someone from Liverpool who thought he was great, some sort of marvellous philanthropist.
The dumb asses who think Gates is great are 100% overlapped with those sticking the death jab boosters to infinity.
They won’t be around for long.
That just leaves the rest of us.
Microsoft used to be a favourite hate target of right-on people because they were a nasty bunch of monopolists – people preferred Apple or Google – LOL!
Gates was pretty notorious for sharp practices within the software industry – not exactly a Mr Nice Guy.
All this seems to have been forgotten by most.
Why should people let you know their ‘gripe’? (Very patronising.) And you describe them as ‘not very sceptical’! Although I didn’t downvote you, I’ve downvoted posts on here before and have had to endure (though not difficult) the numerous little barbs about the ‘downvoters’, descriptions of our likely character (‘miserable’, ‘troll’, oh – and the ultimate insult… ‘triple-vaxed’ (!) etc). They downvoted you because they don’t agree with your post. Live with it. That’s what happens when you post on social media. I’m sure you love it when you get lots of likes don’t you? Do you insist that all those who like your post explain why? Take the rough with the smooth and accept that not everyone will agree with you.
I’m suspecting A Y M wasn’t being patronising but merely wishing to enter into debate with people that disagreed with his/her comment. It seemed fairly quiet comments-wise here yesterday and a decent discussion/debate always livens things up a bit. Its a shame that many prefer to ‘dislike’ and move on when engaging in discussion is a lot more interesting. We are, after all, trying to make this place more of a community and promote free speech. They could also, of course, be people who can’t respond anyway because they don’t have an account.
Killer punch Mogs.
Pretty uncharitable Deborah T.
The challenge was in keeping with Mogadishu comment below,
I don’t give a monkeys about red minuses.
Blimey.
Your analogy is a bit weak when we have had a crucified Christ upside down in a phial of the “artist’s” piss exhibited (and celebrated) with little more than a grumble or two.
It would be interesting to know if you are honest enough to admit that you are (apparently) relaxed about Rushdie’s Islamist stabber and have come out with another boring “The West always in the wrong” hypothesis to divert attention.
Now, as it happens, I need absolutely no convincing that the Beloved Leaders of the West at present are venal, incompetent, virtue signalling, malicious scum.
But I am one of those strange folk who think that Western Culture and Society is still worth defending. Whereas the Iranian Theocracy, the CCP Genocidal Dictatorship or Putin’s ultra nationalist Dictatorship, are threats to what is worth preserving in the West. The fact that Putin and Xi Jinping are obviously far more intelligent that any dozen Western Beloved Leaders put together, notwithstanding.
And it may be relevant that I’m certain that the number of illegal immigrants coming into both the UK and USA must exceed the number trying to get into Russia, China and Iran by several orders of magnitude.
Some come to destroy. But some imagine life will be better.
They’re better strategists. But then they can afford to be, they’re there for the long term (well to be fair jumping Jim is apparently up for reelection, hence, I understand, the Shanghai madness, but his party isn’t, and he’s not very likely to lose).
If Joan of Arc can be cancelled they’ll think nothing of cancelling JK Rowling
Joan of Arc is Cancelled
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ALERT!!!!
“Unvaccinated Novak Djokovic can play in US Open 2022 after USA confirms Covid rule changes”
https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/tennis/unvaccinated-novak-djokovic-can-play-in-us-open-2022-after-usa-confirms-covid-rule-changes-article-93538945
I think that’s premature. While some internal covid bollocks is being changed, unvaxxed still not allowed to enter the US. It’s the Feds that decide that, not the CDC.
Is that the same Twitter he’s using that insta-bans anyone who uses the term ‘groomer’?
And if “Islamist extremists” (because the other Muslims are less Islamic?) don’t get her, maybe the woke mob will?
The multiple stabbing of a defenceless 75 year old and subsequent threats against another courageous campaigner for freedom of speech simply reveal the cowardly and contemptible nature of the contemporary Militant Islam / CCP / Russian Federation etc tyrannical agenda.
If you put your ears more closely to the ground what you will hear is not defeat but the awe-inspiring sound of a sleeping giant – liberal democracy and it’s spiritual underpinnings – springing back to life.
From Jesus Christ to Salmon Rushdie and J K Rowling the message is the same: Love conquers all.
Get with the programme.
You must be joking. All I hear is the deafening silence of the Left as they desperately try to find a way to blame this on the “Far Right”.Let’s face it, if The Satanic Verses was written today it would never find a publisher. “Islamophobia!” They would run a mile, and if they didn’t, the Twitterati, Jolyon Maugham and the Batley mob would see to it that it was withdrawn.
Apparently there were two policemen at the event, supposedly to guard Rushdie. Unfortunately I think they were from Uvalde.
I wonder how many of these Muslim extremists the Government has imported over the past 20 years?
jeez you guys what did ms Rowling do to cause such a stir?
The price of diversity. Islam is stuck in the Middle Ages. But fear not, we have Satan’s own ambassador Justin Welby bringing up the rear.