Hungary indicted in the Sargentini report
April 28th, 2018A pro-government columnist dismisses a report by Dutch Green MEP Judith Sargentini, which accuses Hungary of jeopardising European values, as biased and motivated by hostility to the Hungarian government view on migration.
A report on Hungary compiled by Ms Sargentini at the request of LIBE, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament, could trigger a procedure under Article 7 of the Lisbon Treaty, if approved by two thirds of MEPs. The procedure could eventually result in depriving Hungary of her voting rights within the EU. But such anoutcome would require a unanimous vote within the European Council. Foreign Minister Péter Szíjjártó described the report as ‘a compilation of lies’.
Magyar Hírlap‘s Mariann Őry questions Ms Sargentini’s claim that her report is based on a thorough and impartial investigation. The list of the personalities she consulted, the author writes, comprises three times as many representatives of ‘Soros-funded organisations’ as government officials. LIBE’s shadow rapporteur, right-wing Polish MEP Marek Jurek who attended the meetings, said they did not substantiate Ms Sargentini’s conclusions. All in all, Őry is convinced that a ‘show trial’ is underway in Brussels and ‘this long-drawn-out procedure is meant to prepare a foregone sentence’.