ConWatch: Week 1,818

Does Germany have a constitution yet? This week: Choose your favorite pseudo-constitutional adventure!

We here at The Bupkes enjoy having our fun with Germany’s not-constitution constitution, the Basic Law (Grundgesetz), every week. But did you know that Germany is not unique in having a not-constitution as a constitution?

That’s why we feel it is only fair to spend some time telling you about other places with not-constitution constitutions, which by satirical grace also sometimes go by the name Basic Law.

1. Hungary

The onetime one-half of a European empire, turned Nazi-ish state, turned Communist puppet regime, turned Applebaumian liberal dream, turned Applebaumian illiberal nightmare is governed by what it calls the Fundamental Law. Hardly basic!

Hungary likes to think of itself as the last post-Soviet state in Europe to shed, in 2011, its Soviet-era constitution for a new-and-improved, Western liberal democratic one. (And look how well that is working out!)

This perception is incorrect, of course, as such an esteemed accolade goes to former East Germany, which is still waiting for form…