The mechanics of hate

Since joining the EU, Hungary has received close to 70 billion Euro, approximately 25% of their BIP in 2024. The country is (after Poland and Romania) the highest net receiver of EU money (4,6 billion Euro in 2024).
Still, the streets are plastered with propaganda billboards from Orban’s organizations claiming that “your taxes finance EU’s war against Russia”, and even worse claims. And the elections have not even started.
Budapest is full of European tourists, investments, and still Orban bets on anti-European hate. I do not feel this expressed towards myself, maybe a little when restaurants try to blow up their prices 3-fold towards tourists without even a hint of an apology when confronted.
It is not easy, I understand this, with the inflation making groceries more expensive than in Germany or the Netherlands at a much lower income. Still, I do not sense hope or kindness in the faces when I walk the streets.Read more