EU lawmakers declare Hungary no longer a democracy
European Union lawmakers said Thursday that Hungary had become “a hybrid regime of electoral autocracy” under its nationalist government, and its undermining of the bloc’s democratic values had knocked Hungary out of the community of democracies.
In a resolution that was adopted by 433 votes to 123 with 28 abstentions, the parliamentarians expressed their concerns about Hungary’s constitutional and electoral systems, judicial independence, possible corruption, irregularities in public procurement, rights LGBTQ+, as well as media, academic and religious freedoms.
Lawmakers said Hungary – which its populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban describes as an “illiberal democracy” – left behind many of the bloc’s democratic values. In part, they blamed the other 26 EU member countries for turning a blind eye to possible abuses during Orban’s 12 years in office.
The vote is the latest in a series of confrontations between EU institutions and the Orban government in Budapest. The bloc’s executive arm, the European Commission, is expected to announce on Sunday that it is ready to suspend payments of some EU money to Hungary over its alleged violations.
The French Greens parliamentarian who championed the resolution through the assembly, Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield, said that “for the first time, an EU institution is telling the sad truth, that Hungary is no longer a democracy “.
In the text, the lawmakers condemned “the Hungarian government’s deliberate and systematic efforts to undermine the founding values of the Union”.
The vote is highly symbolic in that it sets Hungary apart from other EU countries in its alleged failure to uphold the values enshrined in the EU Treaty such as “respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities”.
But the vote, which took place during a plenary session in Strasbourg, France, imposes no sanctions on the Orban government, nor does it require other EU countries to take any particular action.
Delbos-Corfield said Orban and the ruling Fidesz party “have spent their time and effort tearing at the fabric of democracy and tearing apart the rule of law instead of supporting their citizens.”
“The costs for Hungarian citizens are clear: they see their rights taken away and their opportunities compromised, as their state is dismantled by autocrats and oligarchs,” she said.
Lawmakers opposed to a report on the resolution said it contains “subjective opinions and politically biased statements, and reflects vague concerns, value judgments and double standards.”
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told a press conference in Budapest on Thursday that Hungarian voters had “decided in four consecutive parliamentary elections what future they want for the country” by electing Orban and his party.
“We don’t appreciate that some people in Strasbourg and Brussels believe that the Hungarian people are not mature enough to decide their own future,” Szijjarto said.
Hungary has long been on a collision course with its European partners. He has regularly blocked joint statements, decisions and events, ranging from high-level NATO meetings with Ukraine to an EU vote on corporate tax and a common EU position. EU on an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire.
The government in Budapest has opposed some EU sanctions against Russia, including an asset freeze on the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as energy-related sanctions against Moscow.
Members of the European Commission meet on Sunday, when they are expected to announce a cut in EU funding for Hungary unless it takes steps to end its democratic backsliding.
Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn said the suspension of around 70% of Hungary’s funding in certain EU programmes, notably related to public procurement, “can be considered proportionate”. It’s unclear how much money that would entail.
A total suspension of EU funds is unlikely. Any action must be approved by member countries, which requires a “qualified majority”, which amounts to 55% of the 27 members representing at least 65% of the total EU population. Some European lawmakers have expressed concern that if Italy’s far-right wins the September 25 election, it could be difficult to establish that majority.