Verbatim report of proceedings

Wednesday, 10 April 2024 - Brussels

Ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications (debate)

  Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, the Hungarian Government has taken a new step on the path towards a Putin-style future. Yet another Russian-inspired law has been promulgated, this time under the guise of protecting national sovereignty. Anything that could be considered as likely to violate or jeopardise the sovereignty of Hungary is now considered to be a crime, and can be punished under criminal law. Of course, the notion of sovereignty is immensely broad and vague, potentially making almost everyone is suspect in Hungary. It means that criticising the government in Hungary will now be dangerous, as it will officially make you, in legal terms, a traitor.

Once again, civil society activists, journalists and political opponents are under threat and the president of the so-called Sovereignty Protection Office has already officially spoken of broadening the scope of this law, as well as the targets. What is the real state of democracy in Hungary? How can the next European, national and local elections be held safely in Hungary under these conditions?