Foreign Digest: Hungary, Venezuela and Europe

Hungary: Tens of thousands of Hungarians protested yesterday against the self-described “illiberal” authoritarian far-right Government of Hungary, led by the opposition leader. As I have posted, the anti-migrant party has recently suffered a series of corruption scandals that are challenging its hold on power. Venezuela: There were more protests today by Venezuelans around the world, including in America, in favor of free elections. As I have noted, the Socialist regime has made it difficult for Venezuelans living abroad to register to vote. After the Venezuelan regime had reached an agreement through mediation with the opposition, it agreed to allow free and fair elections, but then violated the agreement by barring the leading candidate from holding office, forcing the opposition to substitute her at the last minute. Other accord violations include attacks on and imprisonment of opposition members. The Socialists have ruled the South American States since being elected in 2000, but have become authoritarian by restricting freedoms while using elections to maintain a false legitimacy, similar to Russia and Turkey. After the opposition won the 2015 national legislative elections by a more-than two-thirds majority, the Socialists prevented some from be seated and then supplanted the assembly with an appointed body. The assembly leader declared himself president under a constitutional provision and was recognized by the United States, many Latin American, Western and other European States. Europe: The conservative European Union leader, who is seeking re-election, backed by the center-right group of parties from member States, warned today that friends of Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin, the ex-Soviet intelligence officer trying to restore the Soviet Union and Russian Empire, are trying to divide and destroy Europe, namely far-right nationalist anti-migrant parties, some of which have been funded by Russia. Some of these far-right parties oppose defending the former Soviet Republic of Ukraine against Russian aggression. She identified some of the parties, which have similar beliefs as Trumpists do in America, as populist and demagogic.