I wish our lot would refuse to do pre-election debates, totally useless and boring events that they are. Orban's outlook on sexual perversions would also be nice.

There is no good reason for Orban to be matey with Zelensky, who has seized the opportunity of war to suspend 11 opposition parties, the largest of which has 44 seats in the 450 seat parliament. The president has also nationalised several media outlets to “implement a unified information policy”!

Ukraine is a lot like Russia. In the area of democracy it gets a score of only 61/100 from Freedom House: it is partly free, in the same league as countries like Colombia, Serbia, Liberia, El Salvador and the Philippines.

In the corruption stakes, Ukraine’s score is 32/100, making it “Europe’s most corrupt country” (‘Transparency International’).

The EU needs to grow a spine and a pair of testes and insist that the rules governing membership be fully enforced. Failing that the offending state jettisoned until the rules are complied with. No ifs, buts or maybes!
Alan B.

Re "Orban is challenging Western democracies", this is correct if you consider what is effectively what "powers that be" in the US regard as a democracy. ie Other countries where leaders are obliging towards adopting policies in Washington's interests. Never mind if they against those of citizens of the country. Or if political leaders were installed basically after processes corrupted by the US and not genuinely democratically elected. Seems Orban is a leader who does his job in putting interests of his own people first and likely to receive continues strong support from them. One policy is something these supposed western democracies don't like. ie Continuing to maintain a good relationship and trade with the Russian Federation. Where apparently Vladimir Putin has a higher approval rating among his constituents than any other leader of a major country. Yet the US especially try to label him and also President Assad of Syria as "dictators". Maybe correct, but have widespread public support when they are overall good at getting things that are wanted done.

Thank you ttbn for your comments on Zelenskyy and democracy and corruption in Ukraine. However, many people,including myself, would object to calling sexual perversion same sex marriage, accepting people equally irrespective of their sexual orientations and educating children about sexuality in schools. ALAN B. The Eu does enforce its rules in regards to Hungary. It is making aid grants to Hungary conditional on its compliance with its policies. By keeping Hungary in Eu, Orban's antidemocratic stands can be exposed, challanged and hopefully reduced. Also, the issue of the relative importance of national values and sovereignty and the power of Eu over members is an issue that needs to be continually discussed and refined.The Eu needs to value both national cultural diversities and Eu unity, and this requires dialogue and a continued balancing act.

Andris,

If you must. I won't object to your objection to my right to free speech. You are probably used to cancelling people, given your experience with your ABC, so I understand your problem.

Orban, I pine for an Orban.

Funny it is how those terrible autocratic (sic) leaders of other Countries who are such bad (sic) people, almost reprehensible a minority would have us believe, are actually very popular in their own Countries.

Just goes to show how popular is conservatism with a big dash of religion, among the masses: And that too with an extra big dash of Christian morality (as opposed to liberal secular ethics with a big dash of Atheism.

Easy to see which one of the two wins the popularity stakes!

Dan.