The culture wars, home and abroad

NY Times:

In Hungary, Low cost Russian Oil Fuels Proper-Wing Tradition Wars

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has resisted a proposed E.U. embargo of Russian oil, saying it could devastate his nation’s economic system, however it could additionally minimize off a supply of funds for his political allies.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary has fiercely resisted a proposed European embargo of Russian oil, saying it could devastate his nation’s economic system. Different potential casualties of such a ban can be issues near his coronary heart: his populist marketing campaign guarantees, and a monetary gravy prepare for tradition warriors in Europe and in the US.

Each have been fueled by Hungary’s earnings from Russian crude. Gorged with money because of low-cost provides of Russian oil and gasoline, the Hungarian power conglomerate MOL — one of many Central European nation’s largest and most worthwhile corporations — final month introduced it could pay dividends of $652 million to its shareholders.

Greater than $65 million of that can go to a privately managed training basis that final 12 months hosted the Fox News host Tucker Carlson at a competition of right-wing pundits in Hungary.