Of Lorenzo Vita

Source: The eyes of war
Viktor Orban has become, over the years, one of the most important leaders in Europe. And now, his message, begins to penetrate the entire continent.
The victory of John Jansa in Slovenia, ally of Orban, it is an unmistakable signal. Not so much in the numbers of the electoral victory, but in meaning. The group Visegrad, the one to which Hungary is part, has a new ally in Ljubljana.
And the merits of this victory are largely to be assigned to the Hungarian prime minister who was able not only to ride the wave of protest (particularly on migrant issue), but also penetrate the political debate. Clear messages, simple words, deep meanings. Like the last appeal addressed to the Slovenian people “Vote for the survival of the nation”.
I media e Orban in Slovenia
The Jansa case is emblematic of how Orban is following a very precise line. Build an alternative information scheme to mainstream, also hitting political opponents. But in general, the goal is to build a media image capable of "breaking the screen".
In this sense, one thing should not be forgotten, underlined by New York Times. In recent years, businessmen close to the Hungarian prime minister they invested in television networks of Slovenia and Macedonia. In particular, reference is made to two networks: Scandal24 e Nova24Tv. These two networks have started a media campaign in support of the ideas proposed by right-wing movements and especially targeted political opponents.
The US newspaper talks about information manipulation. But much more simply, what is taking place is a real one media war between two alternative worlds. Talking about manipulation of only one part is superficial. Much more realistically, these are two opposing blocks that use information to send the message they want.
And to understand even better what the role of the media is in Viktor Orban's political marketing operation, just think about last year, one of his closest advisors, Arpad Habony, he met Steve Bannon a Washington. Donald Trump's campaign strategist and creator of Breitbart News, Bannon is widely regarded as the true genius behind the rise of many so-called populist movements.

Orban and alliances in Europe

Media use in the Balkan countries is unique part of Orban's rise within the European continent. And it would be simplistic to talk about its role exclusively in light of these investments in the information field. Which however have a very significant weight in the Balkan area. Slovenia teaches.
Actually, the Hungarian leader is developing a network of interests and political alliances that are no longer making him the "inconvenient" leader of Europe, but a real symbol.
The change of perspective, in this sense, it's very interesting. Today it is no longer the enemy of Europe, but the friend of all those movements (also of government) who do not want to align themselves with the dictates imposed by the liberal-progressive European Union. And he is a leader who has managed to clear himself, becoming a sort of beacon for many movements that aspire to or present themselves as government parties. And no longer just for extremist parties.
Budapest has transformed, thanks to the prime minister of Fidesz, in a capital of the anti-Brussels. In this, Italy is certainly not detached from the context. Giorgia Meloni went to Budapest before the elections. Matteo Salvini as soon as he was appointed Minister of the Interior he declared that he had heard from Orban and that, together with him, the rules will change in Europe.
But it's not just Italy. Even in bitter rival Germany Angela Merkel, Orban ha le sue carte. In January, caused a sensation the invitation of the Bavarian CDU addressed to the Hungarian prime minister to go to the party meeting. In that case, the Bavarian leader Horst Seehofer ended up in the eye of the storm. But it should not be forgotten that important Hungarian officials they met other German regional authorities.
A sign that the German Landers are carefully observing the moves of their Hungarian neighbor in an especially anti-migrant perspective. But it is above all a sign of how Orban has transformed Hungary a real alternative modelto the European Union that the sovereignist world rejects.