The formula chosen may be intriguing, but in the eyes of MEPs, in Hungary, a “hybrid regime of electoral autocracy” replaced democracy. In other words, explain the Corriere della Sera, reigns there “a constitutional system in which elections take place but which do not respect democratic norms and standards”. This is one of the conclusions of a report adopted Thursday with 433 votes in favor (123 against, 28 abstentions) by Parliament in Strasbourg.
“Hungary is not a democracy. It was more urgent than ever for Parliament to take a stand given the alarming rate at which the rule of law is disappearing” in the country, denounced Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield, the French MEP (EELV) in charge of the report.
In question, the policy led by Viktor Orbán, in power since 2010. “The list of clashes between Budapest and Brussels is very long”remember The country, citing anti-LGBT measures, a speech against “mix of races”attacks on freedom of expression or even “proximity to Moscow” during the invasion of Ukraine.
The Hungarian Tabloid Glance observe “deliberate and systematic efforts” that, according to the report, the regime of Mr. Orbán would commit to “undermining core values” of the European Union. He also notes the part of self-criticism in a document which pointe “lack of decisive action” continental institutions in the face of the authoritarian drift of the Central European country.
Just a reprimand?
Because, writes Politico Europe, if the report “represents a new symbolic rebuke”, “Parliament action is unlikely to lead to a specific sanction”. In 2013, the “Tavares report” had already pointed out the perilous situation of judicial independence, media pluralism and religious freedom. No result.
“Although the vote has no practical effect”temper the Guardian, “it increases the pressure on the European authorities in Brussels not to distribute to Hungary the EU money frozen because of suspicions of corruption”. Budapest is still waiting, for example, for nearly 5 billion euros in post-Covid recovery aid. “Even Poland, the other usual capricious partner of the EU on the question of the interpretation of the rule of law, already has the green light”remark The country.
The European Commission must precisely decide on Sunday on the allocation of 24 billion euros, from another fund, for economic development and infrastructure that one. She “accuses Hungary, among other things, of corruption, conflicts of interest and massive problems in public procurement and party financing. Behind this hides the hypothesis of a group led by the Hungarian Prime Minister who would enrich themselves at the expense of the common EU budget”noted The time.
The institution would plan to reduce the sum by 70% but it remains open to compromise and some are worried that Brussels will not show enough severity vis-à-vis the government of the populist leader. But “never before has an EU body called Hungary an undemocratic country”notes the Hungarian site 24. So such a harsh report published three days earlier may weigh on the decision.
Representatives in parliament of Fidesz, Mr. Orbán’s party, unsurprisingly criticized the report and the stigmatization of their country. “It is unfortunate that debates on human rights have become debates on political ideologies. The interpretation of human rights has in many cases become a means of spreading leftist ideas in the European Union”, complained MEP Kinga Gál, quoted by Hungarian Hirlap.
His colleague Balázs Hidvéghi a de son côté jugé on Twitter that Europe should work on the cost of energy, insecurity or unemployment rather than engaging in “a witch hunt” against Hungary. The curator site Against chose irony in the face of multiple reproaches from the EU: “Let’s see how many times the country perished each time Brussels raised its finger to the sky”.