Exchange of fire over EU nominations

A pro-government pundit suggests that opposition chairpersons of Hungarian Parliamentary committees should be replaced if opposition MEPs block Fidesz nominees for EP positions. A liberal columnist recalls that in 2009, Fidesz MEPs voted against a Socialist nominee in the European Parliament.

In Magyar Nemzet, Zsolt Bayer suggests that the Hungarian governing parties should use the same strategy as opposition MEPs, and replace all opposition presidents in the Hungarian Parliamentary committees. Bayer describes voting by Hungarian opposition representatives in the European Parliament against Fidesz nominees to become vice chairpersons in various EP committees (see BudaPost July 12) as ‘treason in the moral sense’. The pro-government commentator goes on to accuse opposition MEPs of violating the tacit rules of democracy, and also of disrespecting the will of Hungarian voters. All this, Bayer believes, is in clear violation of democratic behaviour and basic fairness.

In a response to Bayer’s suggestion, Heti Világgazdaság’s Árpád W. Tóta recalls that in 2009, Fidesz MEPs voted against László Andor, the Hungarian candidate for membership in the European Commission nominated by the Socialist government. If the opposition’s attempt to block Fidesz nominees amounts to treason, then Fidesz was the first to commit such treachery, the liberal pundit concludes.

Tags: European Parliament, Fidesz