EU Legislators: Hungary No Longer a ‘Full Democracy’
The European Parliament stated in a resolution on Thursday that Hungary - led by PM Victor Orbán - had become "a hybrid regime of electoral autocracy." The parliament referred to a deterioration of democracy, rights, and the rule of law in the central European nation.
Facts
- The European Parliament stated in a resolution on Thursday that Hungary - led by PM Victor Orbán - had become "a hybrid regime of electoral autocracy." The parliament referred to a deterioration of democracy, rights, and the rule of law in the central European nation.
- Passed by 433-123 with 28 abstentions, the European Parliament stated that Hungary's nationalist government was undermining European democratic values and that Hungary was no longer part of an international community of democracies.
- The EU Parliament raised concerns about Hungary's constitutional and electoral systems, judicial independence, possible corruption, public procurement irregularities, LGBTQ+ rights, and worries about its media, academic and religious freedoms.
- The resolution was led through the Parliament by Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield, a French MEP representing the Greens.
- If an EU member is considered at risk of breaching the bloc's core values, the Parliament can start a so-called "Article 7" procedure - potentially depriving a member state of its voting rights in EU policy-making, but requiring a unanimous vote. Poland has struck a deal with Hungary to block each other's Article 7 procedure.
- Even though the vote in the European Parliament was largely symbolic, Hungary reacted furiously to the resolution. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told reporters it was an "insult...if someone questions Hungary's capacity for democracy."
Sources: Guardian, VOA, Al Jazeera, US News, Euro News, and France24.
Narratives
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Politico. This is a stark statement from the EU. There is much more the bloc could have done to call out and intervene in Hungary's breakdown of democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights. It's deeply concerning to the entire global community that Hungary has deteriorated into a "hybrid regime of electoral autocracy."
- Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by The Independent. Hungary has been condemned in a European Parliament resolution several times before, and this criticism has become a tiresome joke. Budapest is doing just fine in managing its democratic processes and pressing domestic and international security concerns. EU members should better spend their time repairing their relationship with Russia and dealing with the urgent energy crisis.
