STRASBOURG - Hungary's new sovereignty law, designed to prevent outside interference in national politics, was condemned today by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in a resolution. The latest resolution in this parliamentary term, in which MEPs assessed the state of democracy and respect for the rule of law in Hungary, also highlights several serious concerns, particularly in view of the upcoming European elections and Hungary's EU presidency. According to the text, the EP fears that the Hungarian government will not be able to play this role credibly.
MEPs also called on the European Commission (EC) to reconsider its decision to unfreeze EU funds, calling the move incomprehensible.
At the end of the plenary debate, MEPs adopted a resolution (399 votes in favour, 117 against and 28 abstentions) condemning serious shortcomings in the judiciary, the fight against corruption and conflicts of interest, media freedom, fundamental rights, the functioning of civil society or respect for the principles of the single market.
Ten of the 21 Czech MEPs supported the resolution. All three representatives of the Pirates (Marcel Kolaja, Markéta Gregorová and Mikuláš Peksa, Greens faction), Martina Dlabajová and Dita Charanzová (independents, elected for ANO) from the Renew faction, Radka Maxová (independent, (elected for ANO) from the Socialist faction, Luděk Niedermayer (TOP 09), Stanislav Polčák (STAN), Jiří Pospíšil (TOP 09) and Tomáš Zdechovský (KDU-ČSL) from the EPP People's Party faction and Veronika Vrecionová (ODS) from the ECR Conservative faction. MEP Michaela Šojdrová (KDU-ČSL) from the EPP group abstained. The other nine MEPs were against: Kateřina Konečná (KSČM, left-wing GUE/NGL group), Ivan David and Hynek Blaško (both elected as SPD MEPs), three MEPs from the conservative ECR group (Alexandr Vondra, Evžen Tošenovský, Jan Zahradil, all ODS MEPs) and Ondřej Knotek, Martin Hlaváček and Ondřej Kovařík (all ANO, Renew group).
Looking at recent cases of "persistent, systemic and deliberate violations" of EU values, the Parliament condemned the adoption of the Hungarian sovereignty law, which the ruling Fidesz party says will prevent undue interference by foreign individuals or groups in national politics. The law establishes a so-called sovereignty protection office to identify and assess the risks of political interference. MEPs said the office's "extensive powers and strict system of supervision and sanctions fundamentally violate democracy ... and a number of EU rules". The law also punishes illegal foreign funding of parties or groups standing for election with up to three years in prison.
In the resolution, the MEPs therefore ask the European Commission to ask the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg for a preliminary injunction to suspend the validity of the law, as they believe it affects the principle of free and fair elections.
MEPs have again condemned the Commission's decision to unblock more than ten billion frozen euros (more than 250 billion crowns) from EU support funds despite persistent criticism of Hungary's violations of the rule of law. The EC released the money on the eve of a summit in December, at which member states discussed increasing the EU budget and opening accession talks with Ukraine and other countries. The European Parliament has previously taken the EC to the EU's Court of Justice over the issue. In today's resolution, MEPs reiterated that they believe the EC has acted incomprehensibly.
In the resolution, the European Parliament also expressed concern that the Hungarian government will not be able to credibly carry out its duties under the EU presidency in the second half of 2024. Finally, MEPs called for a comprehensive mechanism to protect the values of the European Union.
CTK/gnews.cz-RoZ_07
https://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/europoslanci-odsoudili-madarsky-zakon-o-svrchovanosti/2510292
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