Corona Daily 264: Poland -Hungary Oppose the Rule of Law

Yesterday, Poland and Hungary threw the European Union into a major crisis.

Across the world, a rules-based liberal order has been gradually replaced by right-wing populism, conservatism; disregard for truth, decency and tolerance. The EU is the last major bastion of democracy and liberalism. After Brexit, it is still made of 27 different countries, each with its own culture and history. With no powerful head, major decisions must be taken through consensus by all 27 members. Important decisions take months to negotiate.

Since July, the EU leaders have been arguing about a Pandemic stimulus and a seven-year budget. Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and Denmark are EU’s notorious “Frugals” who want to give less, with strict conditions. Managing them is part of Angela Merkel’s skillset. Economists have predicted the worst recession since WWII, with France, Italy and Spain suffering the most.

The negotiations concluded last week with a historic 1.8 trillion Euros agreed as the long-term budget, including 750 billion euros as pandemic help. The hardest-hit members would get grants, rather than loans. Holding the highest standards of democratic decision-making, EU requires not a majority but unanimity. Yesterday, Poland and Hungary vetoed, throwing EU into a crisis. Why did this happen?

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Poland was persecuted by Nazis, materially ruined by the Soviet Union, and resurrected by the European Union. I worked as a volunteer in Communist Poland in 1987, and then lived there between 1999-2002, when it was an aspiring EU member. Based on my experience, I always offer Poland as the best example of what political unity and removing of borders can achieve. Transformed beyond recognition, Poland in the twenty-first century became a very civilized place to live in.

In the last five years, it has been run by the Law and Justice (PiS) party, the name a perfect misnomer. PiS has tried to strike at the independence of media and judiciary. Andrzei Duda, the president who won a narrow victory this year, promoted hatred for gays, Jews and the liberals who supposedly conspire with foreigners to destroy Polish culture.

When PiS came to power, it tightened its grip on the state TV network TVP, national news agency PAP, and Polish Radio. They now broadcast round-the-clock propaganda.

Three weeks ago, in a choreographed move, America signed with 30 countries an anti-abortion declaration. The only European signatories were Belarus, Poland and Hungary. This was followed by the Highest Court of Poland introducing the toughest anti-abortion laws. Women went on protest marches across Poland.

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Viktor Orban is Hungary’s de-facto dictator. Over the past ten years he has abused the rule of law, the independence of judiciary and the rights of minorities. On one hand, he runs a “Stop Brussels” campaign, compares the EU to the USSR; on the other hand, uses EU as the cash machine. Orban’s family and friends routinely win EU-funded infrastructure contracts.

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Imagine EU as a school class teacher, with Poland and Hungary as two absolutely unruly boys. She should punish them or throw them out of the class. The punishment starts with a loss of voting rights, then sanctions, and the unlikely scenario of expulsion from the EU.

Poland (in 2017) and Hungary (2018) are the only two countries EU tried to punish for undermining the judiciary’s independence. Because of the unanimity principle, both attempts were foiled. Hungary and Poland vetoed to protect each other.

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The Frustrated EU has now tried to link the budget and Pandemic stimulus to “the rule of law”. In other words, money can be withdrawn from countries not following “the rule of law”. Poland called such linking political enslavement. Hungary termed it as attacking its sovereignty. They will not let the budgets pass until the “rule of law” is removed as an obligation. European parliament, the final authority, has said it will not pass the budget if “rule of law” is removed.

Two rogue governments, of Hungary and Poland, now hold hostage the needy population of EU.

Ravi