UNDERNEWS: Hungary's prime minister fuels GOP agenda

May 8, 2023

Hungary's prime minister fuels GOP agenda

Axios - The far-right populism of Hungary’s prime minister is helping inspire U.S. Republicans' agenda for '24 — a game plan that targets immigration, LGBTQ rights and, at least for some, the war in Ukraine, Axios' Sophia Cai writes. Hungary's Viktor Orbán, 59, is something of a godfather to the most conservative elements of the GOP. His harsh policies on immigrants, transgender people, voting rights and other issues have encouraged U.S. conservatives to push for similar laws. Since Orbán was elected in 2010, he has reshaped Hungary's democracy — changing election laws to make it more difficult to oust him, and using racially tinged, divisive rhetoric to inspire his most dedicated supporters. He also has become close to Russia's Vladamir Putin, is a critic of aid to help Ukraine fight off Russia's invasion — and is a favorite speaker at CPAC, the U.S. conservative conference, which met this week in Budapest.

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