Hungary’s ⁦Orbán Viktor⁩ faces a quickly growing challenger he can’t quite shut down, threatening his popularity and party cohesion via Financial Times
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Hungary has experienced a rare political upheaval since a sex abuse scandal in February that hit very close to home for Viktor Orbán ft.com/content/7a4c63… via @ft

Thanks Anne Applebaum -- Indeed a timely one to pinpoint a perennial problem, Russian influence ops exploiting corrupt regimes.

⁦Orbán Viktor⁩ proves he is one of the best dramatists in politics today, grabbing “historic” headlines as Sweden overcomes final Nato hurdle in historic shift via Financial Times ⁦Richard Milne⁩
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Spend more, align strategically and flatter him - how Nato allies prepare for Trump. Hungary and ⁦Orbán Viktor⁩ already do two of those. W/ ⁦Henry Foy⁩ ⁦Amy Kazmin⁩ via Financial Times
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Today is ⁦Orbán Viktor⁩ day in Europe. What is the endgame for Europe’s chief disrupter? W/ ⁦Ben Hall⁩ ⁦Henry Foy⁩ ⁦Andrew Bounds⁩ via Financial Times
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If license plates were contentious, wait until the currency issue boils over in Kosovo, which has defied western pressure and will ban the cash use of Serbian currency as of tomorrow via Financial Times
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No veto offered to Orbán Viktor so EU olive branch may be short lived on.ft.com/47SMTGJ w/ Henry Foy & Paola Tamma via @financialtimes

EU prepared to het nasty unless Hungary’s Orbán Viktor OK’s Ukraine aid — never seen the likes of it Henry Foy Andrew Bounds

#EU gets tough. Brussels threatens to hit #Hungary economy if ⁦Orbán Viktor⁩ vetoes #Ukraine aid via Financial Times w/ ⁦Henry Foy⁩ ⁦Andrew Bounds⁩ on.ft.com/3vQUVCJ

US envoy gets tough on Orbán Viktor for ‘fantasy foreign policy’ that helps #Putin on.ft.com/3tYBQy9 w/ Ben Hall via @financialtimes

All eyes on #Hungary — and that means Orbán Viktor — as #Turkey close to OK on #Sweden #Nato bid ft.com/content/ce8e47… w/Adam Samson and Richard Milne via @ft

Serbia: Александар Вучић wins, reinforcing autocratic rule, electoral fraud allegations abound, opposition crushed and calling for protests. When the dust settles, the West may still like the outcome. on.ft.com/3RMJPHs via @financialtimes

Focus on the question: Why did Hungary relent on EU membership for Ukraine? Orbán Viktor said the rest of the EU ganged up on him so he would 'stay away' from the vote. But for weeks, he had guaranteed a NO vote. HU Parliament practically ordered him to vote NO. So what gives?

No Schengen for you if you uphold tax on Gazprom, Hungary told Bulgaria. And Bulgaria wanted to join Schengen more than to teach Hungary a lesson. w/Henry Foy at on.ft.com/3No2M0s via @financialtimes

⁦Orbán Viktor⁩ says he voices a sub-surface European opposition to Ukraine’s EU aid and membership as #EU budget dispute threatens €50bn war lifeline for Ukraine via Financial Times w/ ⁦⁦Henry Foy⁩ ⁦Ben Hall⁩
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West has no ‘backbone’ in Kosovo-Serbia dispute, should not abandon option of full recognition for Pristina, says British MP via Financial Times
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#Romania has had far right parties in a strong position before, but nothing quite like the anti- #Ukraine AUR party, which gains just before four elections in a pivotal year (2024) both for Romania and the #EU . on.ft.com/461XmPs via @financialtimes

Kosovo wants recognition of sovereignty first, while Serbia will give anything but recognition -- stalemate, the umpteenth, this time rock solid. But winter is coming, literally and figuratively, so brace for things to get darker in the Balkans. ft.com/content/67fc37… via @ft

#Macron , #Scholtz and #Meloni will be among #EU leaders trying to get #Kosovo and #Serbia to accept a deal to mend ties and defuse Balkan tensions. But Kosovo premier Kurti has told me the West must go harder on Serbia or expect no change. on.ft.com/406E3mJ