Anne Applebaum

And the answer is that Hungary is, depending on which measure you use, is either the poorest country in the European Union or maybe the second poorest. You know, sometimes it's the third poorest. It's gone way down the charts. It has, you know, very poor productivity. Large numbers of people leave the country. Hospital system and medical system in very poor shape.

And the answer is that Hungary is, depending on which measure you use, is either the poorest country in the European Union or maybe the second poorest. You know, sometimes it's the third poorest. It's gone way down the charts. It has, you know, very poor productivity. Large numbers of people leave the country. Hospital system and medical system in very poor shape.

Educational system in very bad shape. You know, by one measure after the next. I mean, if you just look at charts, you find that Hungary is now at or near the bottom of almost everything in Europe. There's even one that someone pointed me out. I was in Budapest a couple months ago, which is the Heritage Foundation has a measure of

Educational system in very bad shape. You know, by one measure after the next. I mean, if you just look at charts, you find that Hungary is now at or near the bottom of almost everything in Europe. There's even one that someone pointed me out. I was in Budapest a couple months ago, which is the Heritage Foundation has a measure of

Educational system in very bad shape. You know, by one measure after the next. I mean, if you just look at charts, you find that Hungary is now at or near the bottom of almost everything in Europe. There's even one that someone pointed me out. I was in Budapest a couple months ago, which is the Heritage Foundation has a measure of

It's a measure of governance and it puts Hungary at the bottom of the measure of governance and government accountability because Hungary is so corrupt.

It's a measure of governance and it puts Hungary at the bottom of the measure of governance and government accountability because Hungary is so corrupt.

It's a measure of governance and it puts Hungary at the bottom of the measure of governance and government accountability because Hungary is so corrupt.

It's some kind of index they do. And Hungary ranks near the bottom in Europe. And the point is that all these measures, these kind of flamboyant transformation of By some measures, they're poorer than Romanians, which is one of their historic rivals, which annoys them in particular. But it's also a really profoundly corrupt country.

It's some kind of index they do. And Hungary ranks near the bottom in Europe. And the point is that all these measures, these kind of flamboyant transformation of By some measures, they're poorer than Romanians, which is one of their historic rivals, which annoys them in particular. But it's also a really profoundly corrupt country.

It's some kind of index they do. And Hungary ranks near the bottom in Europe. And the point is that all these measures, these kind of flamboyant transformation of By some measures, they're poorer than Romanians, which is one of their historic rivals, which annoys them in particular. But it's also a really profoundly corrupt country.

Something like, depending on how you count, like 20 to 30 percent of Hungarian companies are in effect part of this group of companies who are reliant on, who have special arrangements with the government. They prosper because they get access to lucrative government contracts. And so the hotel that you read about, where

Something like, depending on how you count, like 20 to 30 percent of Hungarian companies are in effect part of this group of companies who are reliant on, who have special arrangements with the government. They prosper because they get access to lucrative government contracts. And so the hotel that you read about, where

Something like, depending on how you count, like 20 to 30 percent of Hungarian companies are in effect part of this group of companies who are reliant on, who have special arrangements with the government. They prosper because they get access to lucrative government contracts. And so the hotel that you read about, where

Orban's son-in-law owns, he owns a bunch of stuff actually, but you know, the hotel that they were trying to get dignitaries to stay in, you know, that's just one tiny piece of it. I mean, the son-in-law has had lucrative procurement, you know, contracts. all kinds of special relationships with the state, but he's not the only one.

Orban's son-in-law owns, he owns a bunch of stuff actually, but you know, the hotel that they were trying to get dignitaries to stay in, you know, that's just one tiny piece of it. I mean, the son-in-law has had lucrative procurement, you know, contracts. all kinds of special relationships with the state, but he's not the only one.

Orban's son-in-law owns, he owns a bunch of stuff actually, but you know, the hotel that they were trying to get dignitaries to stay in, you know, that's just one tiny piece of it. I mean, the son-in-law has had lucrative procurement, you know, contracts. all kinds of special relationships with the state, but he's not the only one.

And those companies are this huge weight on the Hungarian economy. They're a big chunk of it. They drag it down. You know, they aren't productive. They exist and they're managed in order to please the ruling party. In that sense, they're kind of like Soviet companies used to be. And it's been a disaster for the economy. And the point is, is that authoritarianism makes you poor.

And those companies are this huge weight on the Hungarian economy. They're a big chunk of it. They drag it down. You know, they aren't productive. They exist and they're managed in order to please the ruling party. In that sense, they're kind of like Soviet companies used to be. And it's been a disaster for the economy. And the point is, is that authoritarianism makes you poor.

And those companies are this huge weight on the Hungarian economy. They're a big chunk of it. They drag it down. You know, they aren't productive. They exist and they're managed in order to please the ruling party. In that sense, they're kind of like Soviet companies used to be. And it's been a disaster for the economy. And the point is, is that authoritarianism makes you poor.