Hungary Declares State of War to Protect Nation “By All Possible Means”

Orban seems to be indicating a pivot towards Russia.

What’s not clear is whether or not once you’ve already signed on to the EU, you are able to pivot to Russia.

No one knows the answer to that question – yet.

Reuters:

Hungary’s government will assume emergency powers in order to be able to respond more quickly to challenges created by the war in neighbouring Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a Facebook video on Tuesday.

Orban, who won a fourth consecutive term in an election on April 3, has used the special legal order in the past, once due to Europe’s migration crisis and later during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new state of emergency similarly empowers Orban’s government to approve measures by decree.

The world is on the brink of an economic crisis,” Orban also said in the video, reiterating that Hungary must stay out of the war in Ukraine and “protect families’ financial security.”

Orban said his government’s first measures would be announced on Wednesday.

It’s not even clear that if you are a member of the EU and NATO, whether you are able to stay out of the “war” in the Ukraine.

In theory, Orban could just unilaterally declare an exit from the EU and call in Russian peacekeepers. I mean, I guess that’s possible.

Anything seems possible these days.