The European Parliament proclaimed on Thursday that Viktor Orban’s Hungary is no longer a true democracy, at a time when Budapest is trying to give Brussels guarantees in the fight against corruption to escape a suspension of European funding.
In a widely adopted report, the European Parliament “deeply regrets that the absence of decisive action by the Union has contributed to the erosion of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary”, calling the country, in a convoluted formula, of “hybrid regime of electoral autocracy”.
The report, which received 433 votes in favor (123 votes against, 28 abstentions), was presented by the French environmentalist MEP Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield, applauded in the hemicycle after the vote.
An “illiberal democracy”
Hungary has been led since 2010 by the nationalist and ultra-conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban, 59, who claims to exercise “illiberal democracy” and maintains cooperative ties with Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
“Things have changed drastically” in Hungary in recent years, Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield underlined during a debate in the hemicycle on Wednesday, noting in particular that “independence of justice is as unlikely in Hungary as it is in Poland”.
“If Hungary were a candidate today to enter the EU, it would not be possible, it would no longer meet the criteria for membership, this is the sad observation of the report”, commented the elected Fabienne Keller (Renew Europe).
At the end of the day, Budapest denounced this vote, “an insult” to the Hungarians, according to Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.
Source: BFM TV
