Hungary
EPP & S&D place coalition interests above human rights and democracy
The Chairs of the European Parliament’s centre-right (EPP) and centre-left (S&D) groups today rejected a Greens/EFA group proposal to adopt a plenary resolution next week on the situation in Hungary, with the S&D proposing only to postpone the resolution. Reacting to this refusal, Greens/EFA Co-presidents Rebecca Harms and Philippe Lamberts stated:
“Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban is moving ever further away from common European values. Orban supports the introduction of the death penalty and has gone ahead with the dissemination of a referendum on refugee policy that stirs up racism and xenophobia. Yet, for party political reasons, the chairs of the two biggest political groups in the European Parliament are shying away from the crucial debate that is needed. They are far too tolerant. This is not new, with the centre right having repeatedly shielded Orbán in the past as well. However, for the socialists to now place their European Parliament ‘grand coalition’ interests ahead of a commitment to human rights and democracy is unprecedented, undignified and endangers the EU’s democratic foundations.”
