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@TarkabarkaHolgy Ah, I forgot to respond to this earlier, but holy sh*t, has this been the case in Netherlands too in just 5 months. The latest development...: the cabinet almost fell because the ministers in their weekly meeting were talking about "pus", "maroccan Dutch people and muslims where antisemitism is in the genes" and "halaleaters" (but more derogatory, hard to translate). So cabinet crisis, one resigned, but the rest stayed there bc that party low in the polls.

It's nuts every week!

@TarkabarkaHolgy Few weeks ago they wanted to pass an enabling act to be able to declare an asylum crisis without the consent of Parliament... oh they also want to half the higher education budget, in parliament explained reason was "to force the universities to choose if they want to do actual science or bullshit like global justice and gender studies"... oh and the infrastructure minister called trains a woke leftist hobbies and wants 6 lane toll highways...

@TarkabarkaHolgy Apparently sex-ed in schools will have to be "age appropiate and neutral" (uh-oh where have I heard this before) and while they were still forming the cabinet the leader of the biggest party (Wilders) went to Budapest to CPAC as the main speaker (invited by Orbán of course, his best friend) but (during coalition talks!) none of the Dutch media, public or private, was allowed in because it was a quote "woke-free zone"...

Though of course they also want to raise VAT on books and

@TarkabarkaHolgy newspapers (and other culture) to 21% and cut public broadcoaster funds, so it won't matter for much longer anyway. Can't deny access to media that doesn't exist after all...

They want to leave the UN refugee treaty...

There is so much more, it's impossible to list here. It's a clown show. A circus.

TBF, I mostly just stopped trying to keep up with all the news and focus on my hobbies and friends. There will probably be new elections anyway quite soon.

But you are right!

@TarkabarkaHolgy we were, untill Wilders said something about not wanting to ban islam fully anymore (or well "putting it in the fridge"), the media all declared him mild now and changed after 20 years, and he became by far the biggest party.

They're actually one fraction in Europe, but it goes a bit further then that. Not only is Orbán his biggest friend and inspiration, his wife is Hungarian (presumably not the fun kind) and the minister for the economy was special representative for the

@TarkabarkaHolgy Orbán government till the week before he became minister. The secretary for digitalization was also a dual citizen - till the week before. One reporter already joked that we have so many Hungarians (of fidesz obviously) in the cabinet, we should start supporting Hungary in the European football championships as a backup (normally when we lose we switch to supporting Belgium D:)

And of course Mr Wilders immediately started following his greatest friend and idol.

@TarkabarkaHolgy now, I'm also in Budapest 4 times a year, sure, but that's for my favorite anime convention, and everyone there is really fun! It's basically a pride event (and I think if dear Viktor ever came there he'd be spontaneously hanged. Well either that or maybe someone would draw some gay fan art of him as Viktor from Yuri on ice with yuri . Actually, a fun idea , but you get the point). There is always a massive free hug line outside, it's the best!

But he goes to copy policy.

@TarkabarkaHolgy the other coalition parties aren't much better.

It's a circus. Which is why I have basically checked out, it's depressing af, and I know I don't really have to be worried about my hobby and community at least (probably niche enough to just be ignored, since they don't really give a shit, they just want to look as appearing to do something for their conservative voters in the countryside so they keep getting reelected right?) since, well, fav con IS there and thriving xD

@TarkabarkaHolgy but yeah, I was catching up with a con fren I hadnt seen for a while (not that I usually talk politics there obviously, it's an anime convention xD, but hadnt seen them in a few years and it was basically closing time so xD) and they were shocked too.

But yeah, Netherlands not great rn. Probably new elections sometime soon though.

Also, Germany, afd is rising. France, le pen least seats but most votes by a wide margin. Belgium, they did good too. Western Europe isn't so much

@TarkabarkaHolgy better... then of course there is Italy, Sweden, finland, Denmark.... but ig those aren't western Europe.

Anyway, it's all very double plus unfun as 1984 would put it, so again I kinda avoid the news and just enjoy my cons and cosplay and other fandom things with my friends now xD

Actually will be back for winter mondo in January, with a Belgian friend, and like always, I can't wait XD but first Dutch Comic Con, and a Christmas themed small one next month. Life is still good!

@TarkabarkaHolgy this event btw xD https://photos.app.goo.gl/3kVXJNzpDd9vm8q87

It's REALLY fun! Well I mean, of course, otherwise I wouldn't spend 8% of my yearly income to go every time despite us having plenty of cons too

So yeah that's why I'm over there every 3 months. And I've been bringing friends from here over too and they all want to go again xD

If you like anime (or comics or scifi or old games or something tbh, it's all there, but it's mostly anime XD) you should go sometimes. It's the best!

@TarkabarkaHolgy with that, time for work xD

@TarkabarkaHolgy nice xD (well except not being able to come every time xD) I somehow make it work financially. Or well, work. But good enough to not starve or lose my house so it works

Are you coming in January by any chance? XD

I'll check back later, work now!