Orban Threatens EU Over Gas: Suddenly, Sovereignty Matters
RT reports that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is vowing to sue the EU over its proposed Russian gas ban, citing national interest. While the West decries Orban's 'authoritarian tendencies' when he restricts media or judiciary (see: European Parliament's 2022 resolution condemning Hungary's democratic backsliding), his stance against EU energy policy is now presented as a principled defense
of Hungarian sovereignty. It appears 'national interest' is a fluid concept, conveniently defined by how closely it aligns with avoiding an energy crisis for one's own populace, rather than upholding humanitarian principles or democratic norms abroad. One might wonder if the EU's unwavering commitment to 'rules-based order' extends to its own member states' energy bills. The hypocrisy isn't lost:
the same outlets that routinely condemn Orban as a threat to European unity will now, however subtly, acknowledge the very real economic pressures he's leveraging—pressures they themselves played a part in creating through sanctions. This isn't about principle; it's about pockets. As long as the lights stay on, 'autocrat' becomes 'pragmatist' in the blink of a gas pipeline.