EU Parliament denies Hungary democratic status - Foreign Minister outraged: Want to humiliate us
Created: 09/15/2022, 22:03
The European Parliament no longer sees Hungary as a full-fledged democracy.
Foreign Minister Szijjarto reacted with outrage.
In addition, the country is threatened with billions in cuts.
STRASBOURG - Within the EU, Hungary has long been criticized for violating the rule of law.
Now the European Parliament has denied the country the status of a true democracy.
"Among experts" there is increasing agreement that "Hungary is no longer a democracy," said a resolution passed by the parliament on Thursday.
Hungary: EU Commission wants to introduce cuts worth billions
Under right-wing nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Hungary had "become a hybrid system of electoral autocracy," according to the non-binding parliamentary text, which the majority of MPs in Strasbourg approved.
The EU Commission, which had already sued Hungary twice in July, wants to initiate a cut in aid worth billions at a special meeting on Sunday, among other things because of corruption.
According to unconfirmed media reports, they are to be cut by 70 percent.
Hungary no longer a democracy: Foreign Minister finds it an "insult"
Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto was outraged.
"I find it an insult to the people of Hungary when someone questions Hungary's capacity for democracy," he said at a press conference in Budapest.
"Some" politicians in Strasbourg and Brussels wanted to "humiliate" his country.
But for Hungary and Orban it seems that the days are not over yet.
According to the online medium Politico
, the EU Commission is considering giving
Orban a way out if he still initiates the reforms that have been called for.
A week ago, its government announced by decree that an independent anti-corruption agency would start work in November.
(mt/dpa/afp)
