EU bureaucrats accused of blackmail
January 31st, 2024Although the existence of a purported plan to ruin Hungary financially has been denied by senior EU officials, a pro-government columnist condemns the leak as an intentional move to blackmail Hungary.
The Financial Times reported the existence of a document allegedly written by an EU staffer, which described how Hungary could be badly hurt economically if the government continues to veto a plan to extend 50 billion Euros in support for Ukraine from the EU budget. (Hungary has suggested a compromise that would allow the money to be paid, but subject to an annual review). Reuters was told by officials that no such plans are on the EU agenda. Secretary of State Zoltán Kovács, who is in charge of international communication within the Prime Minister’s office, said such leaks never happen by chance.
In Magyar Nemzet, Ottó Gajdics describes what happened as a case of brazen blackmail. As a result, he remarks, the Budapest Stock Exchange index plummeted and the exchange rate of the Forint sank to a six-month record low. He mentions the widespread bitter protest movement launched by farmers in western Europe as proof that the policy followed by the European Union on Ukraine serves ‘alien interests’, with the massive inflow of Ukrainian grain only enriching the global companies that have taken over large swathes of Ukrainian land. By contrast, he continues, Hungary urges peace in Ukraine and offers humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians, as recognised by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba when he met his Hungarian counterpart, Péter Szíjjártó on Monday. The two are preparing a meeting between President Zelensky and Prime Minister Orban.