Opinion: Orbán uses the Coronavirus like a true dictator

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his party Fidesz of Hungary is using the Coronavirus or COVID-19 like the pawn they needed to take all power. This is using a crisis and pandemic to ensure they can silence the opposition, can stop the media from publishing and rule by decree.

Orbán has always dreamed of this. Surely, he never wanted to be questioned or be under fire. Orbán wants to be grand chief. That is why he used the Grand Coronavirus Law of 2020 to ensure that for him.

Because Orbán doesn’t have to care about elections. He can rule be decree and also have the ability to silence the media, “if they do fake-news or misinformation”. That is coded for the ones who is writing the wrong thing for Orbán and his allies. State of Emergency without any timeline. All of this is simple methods to hold power without any consequences.

PM Orbán is using the pandemic like a candy-store. He pick and mix all the positive things for himself and the Parliament in Hungary voted in favour of it. They gave the man unlimited powers, where he can order whatever he feels and act as a supreme overlord without any questions. The Parliament gave away oversight and control to one man.

Orbán can do whatever he wants now in Hungary. Budapest is his playground and he can enjoy all the perks. By decree he can reissue whatever he feels like and the Parliament cannot block it. The law and the COVID-19 was the needed crises for him.

Some say they expect him to be voted out by 2022. However, if you have given him this power now, what will stop him then? He has ruled already a decade and now gotten more power yesterday. What really stops him? Yes, it is wasn’t only Fidesz who gave him the votes yesterday. There was the votes of KDNP (Christian Democratic Party) and “Mi Hazank” Our Homeland Party who did so too.

This is unlimited powers by decree, suspending the powers of parliament and giving way to Orban. No matter what you think of that, its giving one man all control and do whatever he feels. This is trusting a whole state into one person and therefore, by all means be under his mercy and his will. Instead of checks and balances of power, he can act as he see fit and without anyone stopping him.

It can be revoked by the Parliament, when they see it fit. However, will they and at what interest do they have that? They have already given the powers to one man and unless there is a revolution, what should stop Orbán?

Orbán is a man of power and said if the EU couldn’t help in the crisis, at least not hinder him. This is defending himself and the Hungarians for giving him all power. Because, that rule be decree like a dictator is the only way out for these folks.

This is using a crisis for a self-interest and adding more powers for a small group of people. This is not new, but yet another government doing it. They are not even concealing it.Orbán might act aloof and act sincere, but its not believable. Since, he wouldn’t do this, if there wasn’t anything in return.

It is not Saint Orbán, but PM Orbán and his legislative effort to maximize control and amend laws in his favour. Peace.

Burkina Faso: Coronavirus (COVID-19) au Burkina Faso – Point de la situation au 28 mars 2020 (29.03.2020)

Mali: Communique No. 23 du Ministere de la Sante et des Affaires Sociales sur le Suvi des Actions de Prevention et de Riposte Face a la Maladie a Coronavirus (29.03.2020)

United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson letter to every household urging them to stay home (28.03.2020)

Defenders Coalition: Call to Uphold Human Rights and Classify Human Rights Monitoring and Oversight by Constitutional Agencies as Essential Service Providers (27.03.2020)

Opinion: Four possible outcomes with Alpha Conde after the referendum

The two term President Alpha Conde of Guinea knows this perfectly well. His citizens knows and the world knows this. There is only three real outcomes now, that he has the legal ability to run for two more terms. The old man, the 82 year old executive and head of state. Has only a few narrow paths ahead of himself.

First Option: Dying in office.

He can by all means, because we don’t know his life-span or trajectory of breathing. When saying that, we don’t know when he will die or if he will die in power. That means serving as the head of state until his last breath. That means dying as a President and than after that, someone else get to become the 6th President of Guinea. Which, means he would be third one to die in power, since liberator and dictator Sekou Toure and dictator Lasana Conte.

Second Option: Loose power by a coup

The second option, which we know is possible, but need someone to use force. Is that someone inside the army starts a coup d’etat and uses the means of mutiny to bring him down. That means the army won’t serve the President, but instead will serve the leader they had chosen. That is brutal ending of a Presidency, but not a new in Guinea. As Moussa Dadis Camara did his bidding after the death of Conte in 2009, but he didn’t contest in the “first free elections” in 2010, as he was in exile in Burkina Faso. The junta-leader who didn’t get to linger in power and neither did his deputy Konate who only got a short term stint before the aforementioned elections.

Third option: Public revolution to overpower him

The opposition, civil society and activists could overpower him. They could over time shutdown all parts of government. Stop all trading, all collection of taxes and stop normalcy. So, that the state functions wouldn’t exists. That they barricaded the streets. Silenced the media and controlled the airwaves. They would dethrone Conde and his party. That by popular demand and by the acts of civil disobedience or defiance. However, that would cost and the demonstrations would be so co-ordinated, that the security forces had to give up and give way.

Fourth Option: Rule with an Iron-Fist

This last option is the most likely one. The President is following suit of Toure and Conte. He is killing people to be able to run two more terms. Even as his growing old and are in advanced age. Surely, he wants to be like Mugabe and others. Who ruled until their cronies took over. Instead of giving way to succession.

Alpha Conde doesn’t want to learn from history. His just a stubborn old man, who wants to distort his legacy, wants to be remembered as a big-man who couldn’t let go and who kept power by any means. His not alone in this, all arms of government is supporting this and they are making way for him.

Conde is just following what previous leaders has done. Not that he follows Camara or Konate, but Camara was shot and Konate ruled temporarily. While instead he follows Toure and Conte. Doing the same thing. Just in our time. Now, having a referendum to legitimize his rule. Surely, the elections will be rigged. There will be social media black-outs, there will oppression and the opposition will get punished. That is the ordinary playbook of guys like Conde.

Unless one of the options happens. He will just rule. Indefinitely. Since he has the throne, the package and the glory. He will not give way or give that up. His enjoy the powers and the perks. Therefore, it is all his and the spoils are his too. That is why his not letting go. Peace.

Guinee: Front National pour la Defense de la Constitution (FNDC) – Declaration No. 094 (28.03.2020)

Police Reforms Working Group – Kenya: Police Must Stop Use of Excessive Force wile Enforcing the Curfew Order March 27, 2020 (27.03.2020)

Kenya: Police Internal Memo – Curfew Guidelines for Law Enforcement (27.03.2020)

Malawi: Society of Medical Doctors (SMD) – Press Statement – COVID 19 Awareness by Political Parties (25.03.2020)