EU lawmakers to confront ‘threat’ of Hungary’s Orban
STRASBOURG, France: European lawmakers will challenge Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to his face yesterday over what they see as his right-wing populist threat to EU founding values.
Orban plans to deliver a “frank and outspoken” defence of his stance before the European Parliament, which will decide whether to start steps that could lead to political sanctions against Hungary.
Budapest argues its antimigrant measures and its defence of sovereign rights are in tune with the mood of European voters, who will elect a new parliament in Strasbourg next May.
But Judith Sargentini, who is spearheading a vote today on whether to take action against Hungary, warned her fellow MEPs that the 28-nation bloc's founding values are at stake.
“Do you want the rule of law?” demanded Sargentini, a left-wing Green MEP from the Netherlands.
Her proposed resolution warns that Hungary's actions represent a ‘systemic threat' to the bloc's democratic founding values.
It voices concerns about the Hungarian judiciary's independence, corruption, freedom of expression, academic freedom, religious freedom, and the rights of minorities and refugees.
Opposition to Orban's vision does not just come from the left.
There is disquiet in the main centre right parliamentary group, the European People's Party ( EPP), about his position, despite it including his Fidesz party.
“MEPs from the centre right have a clear choice next week,” declared Guy Verhofstadt, head of the liberal ALDE group.
“Support freedom and EU values by sanctioning Orban, or capitulate to far right populists who promote unfreedom.”
It would be the first time the European Parliament votes to take steps under article seven of European Union treaties, which could ultimately deny Hungary its EU voting rights.
But the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, launched similar steps under article seven against Poland in December last year over its alleged threat to the independence of the courts. — AFP