1/ Authoritarian leaders frequently wield anti‑corruption rhetoric as a political weapon to discredit rivals and consolidate power. Figures like Viktor Orbán, Robert Fico, and Irakli Kobakhidze portray themselves as champions of transparency, yet their actions reveal a self‑serving agenda. 🧵 - ThreadSky

nafohoplite.mainbastards.online • 13 days ago

1/ Authoritarian leaders frequently wield anti‑corruption rhetoric as a political weapon to discredit rivals and consolidate power. Figures like Viktor Orbán, Robert Fico, and Irakli Kobakhidze portray themselves as champions of transparency, yet their actions reveal a self‑serving agenda. 🧵

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nafohoplite.mainbastards.online•13 days ago

2/ For instance, Viktor Orbán—long celebrated for his nationalist stance—was recently exposed by French TV channel France 2 for owning an undeclared, luxurious Austro‑Hungarian‑era palace valued at €45 million. This discovery starkly contradicts his anti‑corruption image.

nafohoplite.mainbastards.online•13 days ago

3/ Similarly, Robert Fico and Irakli Kobakhidze have been known to target political opponents with spurious corruption allegations, using dubious investigations as a means to silence dissent. Their public anti‑corruption stance conceals their own corrupt practices. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/12/world/europe/slovakia-robert-fico.html

nafohoplite.mainbastards.online•13 days ago

4/ These leaders routinely employ a double standard: while railing against corruption in others, they engage in secretive wealth accumulation and patronage. By victimising opponents through alleged corruption, they justify authoritarian measures and undermine genuine accountability.

nafohoplite.mainbastards.online•13 days ago

5/ Their unabashed pro‑Kremlin alignment only deepens suspicions. Embracing a model that rewards loyalty over accountability, these figures actively support Russian interests—fostering an environment in which cronyism flourishes and democratic institutions are eroded.

nafohoplite.mainbastards.online•13 days ago

6/ The irony is palpable. Those who decry corruption and champion the public good are, in reality, entangled in opaque networks of self‑enrichment and dubious alliances. This hypocrisy undermines any moral authority they claim, and it corrodes democratic norms.

nafohoplite.mainbastards.online•13 days ago

7/ By weaponising corruption charges against their adversaries, these authoritarians not only silence legitimate criticism but also create a climate in which genuine reform becomes impossible. Their tactics stifle debate and allow corruption to thrive unchecked.

stanic042.bsky.social•13 days ago

are you kidding, this was known for years

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