Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

EP's LIBE Committee in Hungary to Assess Rule of Law Situation

EP's LIBE Committee in Hungary to Assess Rule of Law Situation

The European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) spend three days in Budapest to assess the rule of law in Hungary.

As the European Parliament has long voiced concern over democratic backsliding in the country, members of the EP’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) are spending three days in Budapest to assess the rule of law. According to the ruling parties, this is nothing more than “putting pressure” on the government and the “verdict is already prepared.” The delegation also includes opposition Momentum MEP Anna Donáth, who says the Hungarian situation is becoming an acute issue in Europe.

The delegation arrived in Budapest on Wednesday with the mission to assess the respect for press and academic freedom, the rights of minorities, and the wider rule of law context. The EP’s press release notes the Article 7 proceedings begun in 2018 as the visit’s background, and that “according to MEPs, the situation has deteriorated further in the years since.” It also notes a resolution adopted in July 2021 that criticizes the “Hungarian anti-LGBTIQ legislation,” and denounces the dismantling of democracy and the rule of law in the country. Moreover, in a 2021 Rule of Law report, the European Commission also highlighted the worsening situation in the country.

According to the EP’s Hungarian liaison office, the agenda of the visit includes meetings with journalists, non-governmental organizations, academics, cultural representatives, several judges, opposition politicians, journalists, and the Hungarian government representatives. This last category includes Minister for Justice, Judith Varga, and Interior Minister, Sándor Pintér, too. They also plan to talk to the mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, with members of parliament from different political groups and with representatives of the opposition, including Democratic Coalition leader (and former PM), Ferenc Gyurcsány.

Left-wing daily Népszava stated that the delegation intended to meet the prime minister as well, but Viktor Orbán reportedly turned them down.


Members of the delegation:

*  Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Greens/EFA, France) – Head of the delegation
*  Bettina Vollath (S&D, Austria)
*  Jorge Buxadé Villalba (ECR, Spain)
*  Nicolas Bay (ID, France)
*  Anna Donáth (Renew, Hungary)
*  Isabel Wiseler-Lima (EPP, Luxembourg)
*  Malin Björk (The Left, Sweden)


Justice Minister: LIBE arrived with “a verdict prepared in advance”


The Hungarian government, however, is highly critical of the delegation’s arrival. In the justice minister’s view, the group has arrived with “a verdict prepared in advance.” According to Judit Varga, Hungary is a free and independent country and an EU member. The European Parliament, she added, is one of the EU’s institutions which does not have any authority or powers to exercise over a sovereign state.

“In the spirit of this, and of international courtesy, tourism, and diplomacy, I am preparing for the meeting, and I am happy to inform them if they have any questions about the special features of the Hungarian legal system,” she said, stating:

“Be under no illusion: an election campaign is under way also in Brussels in connection with the 2022 Hungarian parliamentary election with the aim to help the [Hungarian] opposition.”


In addition, ruling Fidesz stated the visit only wants to “put pressure” on the government. The ruling party claims Brussels and the left are attacking Hungary to allow LGBTQ propaganda in Hungarian kindergartens and schools, and the settlement of migrants. “It is clear that since the adoption of the Child Protection Law, Brussels and the Soros network have geared up their attacks against Hungary. They also want Hungary to allow LGBTQ propagandists into kindergartens and schools. In the European Parliament, Hungarian left-wing MEPs are also voting in favor of any measure to this end.

Anna Donáth: Hungary’s rule of law situation is acute in Europe


As mentioned above, a Momentum politician is also a member of the delegation. Anna Donáth (a LIBE member herself) revealed that she got a place in the visiting committee after a Romanian MEP offered up her place. She claims that the delegation’s members will ask questions that will give them a comprehensive picture on the current state of the rule of law in Hungary, adding that they would visit all political angles, media spheres etc, similarly sitting down with pro-government and gov’t-critical outlets.

“We must see that the Hungarian debate on the rule of law is becoming increasingly acute in Europe. It is simply no longer possible to ignore what is happening in Hungary.”


That is why the European Parliament decided last year, in its monitoring role, to gather further information on the situation of the rule of law in Hungary following the launch of the Article 7 procedure,” Donáth said. “As part of this process, the EP is listening to those involved and consulting a number of key government and civil society actors. Ultimately, parliament will be able to use this information to exert political pressure on the Article 7 procedure or even on the rule of law mechanism.”

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sentenced to Fifty Months in Prison Following Prostitution Conviction
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Russian Research Vessel 'Yantar' Tracked Mapping Europe’s Subsea Cables, Raising Security Alarms
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Trump Says Ukraine Can Fully Restore Borders with NATO Backing
Europe Signals Stronger Support for Taiwan at Major Taipei Defence Show
Germany Weighs Excluding France from Key European Fighter Jet Programme
Cyberattack Disrupts Check-in and Boarding Systems at Major European Airports
Björn Borg Breaks Silence: Memoir Reveals Addiction, Shame and Cancer Battle
When Extremism Hijacks Idealism: How the Baader-Meinhof Gang Emerged and Fell
JWST Data Brings TRAPPIST-1e Closer to Earth-Like Habitability
Trump Orders $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visas and Launches ‘Gold Card’ Immigration Pathway
France’s Looming Budget Crisis and Political Fracture Raise Fears of Becoming Europe’s “Sick Man”
Three Russian MiG-31 Jets Breach Estonian Airspace in ‘Unprecedentedly Brazen’ NATO Incident
European manufacturers against ban on polluting cars: "The industry may collapse"
Turkish car manufacturer Togg Enters German Market with 5-Star Electric Sedan and SUV to Challenge European EV Brands
Christian Brueckner Released from German Prison after Serving Unrelated Sentence
World’s Longest Direct Flight China Eastern to Launch 29-Hour Shanghai–Buenos Aires Direct Flight via Auckland in December
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
×