It's official.
A European institution, the Parliament,
no longer considers its member country
, Hungary, "a democracy".
And that would already be serious.
Instead, the report approved by a large majority by the Strasbourg plenary - 433 votes in favor and 123 against - goes further and marks Budapest as a "systemic threat" to the founding values of the EU by virtue of that "hybrid regime of electoral autocracy" built. by Viktor Orban.
Any further hesitation, MEPs argue, would be connivance and therefore the Council is urged to intervene to avoid, on its part, possible "violations of the principle of the rule of law".
The report sparked outrage
(as well as the compact voting block) of Budapest as well as the right-most groups of the hemicycle: Identity and Democracy (ID) and the European Conservatives-Reformists (ECR).
Where the representatives of the Lega and Fratelli d'Italia militate.
"We believe that a prerequisite of this relationship should be objectivity, the use of clear criteria and strict adherence to the facts, but once again this has not happened", specified a note from the delegation of the Brothers of Italy to the Parliament. European.
"This is - we still read - yet another political attack against the legitimate Hungarian government, in a difficult phase for Europe in which at all levels we should pursue the path of unity and not that of polarization for ideological reasons ".
ANSA agency
Berlusconi in the Meloni-Salvini race: "Hooked to the EU or me out" - Politics
The two quarrel a bit, and on the other hand 30 billion is a figure that could also be done a maneuver.
The clash remains largely within the limits of etiquette, but Giorgia Meloni and Matteo Salvini continue to battle over the deviation (ANSA)
The quarrel actually comes from afar
because already in 2018 - therefore in the previous legislature - the Eurochamber had approved the request to activate the conditionality mechanism (provided for by the treaties precisely for any violations of the fundamental values of the EU, such as democracy and the rule of law).
The report indicated 12 areas to keep an eye out for.
Well.
In four years, not only did things not improve, they would even get worse.
The Commission has opened negotiations with Budapest but, according to what was reported in the courtroom by the Justice holder, Didier Reynders, there are "no positive developments to report".
Thus, according to rumors, the EU executive would be ready to recommend "the suspension of up to 70% of the 22.5 billion euros of cohesion funds allocated for the period 2021-27" to Hungary.
Good but not very good, for the Eurocamera.
"
The lack of decisive action by the EU
", reads the report, has in fact contributed to the creation of the Hungarian hybrid regime, or" a constitutional system in which elections are held but lack of respect for democratic norms and standards ". Practically a small Russia within the borders of the EU - and perhaps not surprisingly Budapest, often and willingly, hinders the action of the other 26 member countries against Moscow. even the most pro-Russian political groups in the European Parliament. Just to stay today, ID and ECR voted against the Commission's proposal on European statutes and funding for parties (which aims to shield them from external influences)
.
, the Lega delegation abstained in this case while the Fdi MEPs present in the classroom were instead divided: Sergio Berlato and Carlo Fidanza abstained, Pietro Fiocchi and Raffaele Stancanelli in favor.
And so?
MEPs are now asking the Council to put a stop to it and fully activate Article 7 of the treaties, which provides for the possibility of imposing sanctions on member countries in democratic deficit up to the "suspension of voting rights".
Procedure which, they emphasize, requires only "a qualified majority".
Meanwhile, it seems that the Hungarian government - which has branded today's vote as "an insult" - will already present a package of reforms considered necessary to persuade Brussels not to strike hard and indeed approve its Recovery next Monday.
still parked in limbo.
"Cosmetic measures" to get "the money", swear by many in Strasbourg.
Now we need to get serious
.
Tajani: 'Forza Italia guarantor in Europe, foreign policy will not change'
