Dutch MEP Judith Sargentini, who is leading a European Parliament inquiry into Hungary’s rule of law and fundamental rights, has argued that Article 7 should be triggered.
“There is a clear risk of serious breach of the values on which this European Union is founded,” said Sargentini.
As reported by Euronews, however, the parliament is divided over triggering the process, which could strip Hungary of its voting rights.
The European People’s Party (EPP) – of which Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party is a member – is opposed to triggering Article 7.
The EPP’s leader Manfred Weber congratulated Orban on his recent election win. For that, Weber got a tough response from a Swedish member of the grouping.
In a letter, the Swedish MEP, Gunnar Hokmar, said he is surprised since Orban won on a platform of anti-European and anti-Semitic rhetoric.
In response, Hungarian MEP Livia Jaroka told Euronews that this is based on misinformation.
“In the EPP we have an open talk,” she said. “So, all the members can bring their own concerns. And they brought them up to me. That’s why I can tell you that I know that much of their information is misinformation.”
Orban has locked horns with the European Union over migration and reforms which are said to undermine democracy and weaken media independence. He’s teamed up with Poland to stand up against Brussels policies, reported Euronews.
