Jeopardizing democracy in Hungary

„Orban seems impervious to foreign criticism of this stunningly bad law, possibly because he's been criticized too much in the past. I was in Budapest this month - I won a prize from Hungary's museum of totalitarian history - and heard many complaints about unflattering coverage of Hungary in the international media. What Fidesz supporters really hate are stories that make liberal use of the word "fascism," as well as those (usually in the German press, who love this kind of thing) featuring photographs of mustachioed men in elaborate uniforms, waving the national flag - as if all Hungarians looked like that.

I take their point: In fact, the real problem with this government is not its "fascism" but its uncontrolled contempt for its "liberal elite" and its "mainstream media." This problem is not unique to Hungary. I can imagine plenty of American politicians would love to punish "unbalanced" journalists who oppose "human dignity." The impulse to control what people are allowed to hear and to monitor what they write have their roots in the old left in this part of the world, not the new right. A friend, now suspended from his job at Hungarian national radio for opposing the media law, says the chilly atmosphere at a recent editorial meeting was "like the [Stalinist] '50s" - except, of course, that it was funny, not scary, and no one was tortured afterward.

Orban grew up in a one-party state. His sense of history should prevent his party from building another one.”