…and with him goes the most significant and consistent opponent to funding for Ukraine within the EU. Good.
Slovakia said they will take over from Hungary if Orban looses a month or so ago.
It’s not that simple for Slovakia…
Firstly Fico risks isolating Slovakia now that he doesn’t have Hungary as an ally to protect him from any disciplinary actions from the EU.
Secondly, the EU has developed a bilateral loan system from individual member states that doesn’t require a unanimous EU vote.
Thirdly, there’s also a “enhanced cooperation” system now that allows groups of countries to proceed without unanimity.
Fico is going to have to balance the benefits he gets from doing Putin’s bidding with the blowback he is going to get and the consequences that will generate for Slovakia.
Maybe I’m missing something, but that was true for Hungary too?
Hungary and Slovakia used to cover for each other. That doesn’t work without one of them.
It is also politically much more hazardous to be the only one standing against some very strong will of the entire rest of the EU. If there are two in opposition it is already considerably less hazardous. Add to that, that Fico is in a domestically very difficult situation, he can afford taking much less heat than Orban did until his massive electoral defeat. On top of that, Fico is corrupt and bought by Russia but he is more pragmatic than Orban. That also shows his track record. He might make some fuss but is not ready to take all the flak for it by standing his ground indefinitely.
With a 2/3 super majority! I’m still a bit shook, it’s hard to believe we did it. It’s viktover!
There’s still a very minor chance that mail in ballots change the mandates - possibly reducing the win from 2/3 to a simple majority. But fingers crossed it doesn’t happen.
One orange fuck down, one to go.
One orange fuck down, one to go.
I’m enjoying the thought of how shook up our own orange fuck must be at this news, given how much of their tactics they’ve based on Orban’s regime. Their great ‘roadmap to success’ has just fallen. Not looking good for him.
Good. Will he run to Russia now?
