A left-wing take on EU sanctions procedure against Hungary

A left-wing columnist interprets the prospect of an EU procedure against Hungary on account of ‘a clear risk of a serious breach of EU values’ as a shame for the country, and proof that the Hungarian government does not follow the rule of law.

Commenting on the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) vote in favor of sanctioning Hungary, (see BudaPost June 27,) Népszava’s Miklós Hargitai thinks that the prospect of the first EU Article 7 procedure launched for the violation of basic EU norms is a shame for Hungary. (In fact, the same initiative against Poland is at a more advanced stage as it was approved by the European parliament last December). The left-wing columnist dismisses the Hungarian government’s interpretation according to which the procedure is another attack by George Soros. Sebes accuses the government of converting Hungary into ‘mafia state’ worse than countries in the Eastern Balkans.

Tags: corruption, democracy, EU, European Parliament