Discussion on Hungary's Political Situation

Mr. Commissioner, um, you often use the

words closely monitoring the situation, that the Commission is closely monitoring

the situation. Yet last time you surprised me because

when I asked you

about recent developments in Hungary, you seemed to be completely

out of touch with the context. So, uh, I didn't get any

answers to my questions.

And, uh,

these questions are very severe about the anti-democratic measures

implemented by the Tisa government in Hungary.

If I'm not mistaken, you were TD

in, uh, Ireland since two thousand and seven to twenty twenty-four.

That's seventeen years.

Imagine if the same rules applied in Ireland as

in Hungary, your political career would have been

terminated latest in twenty-nineteen, and you would have only

learned about it in the last mandate where you took your office

because the ban on half of the Hungarian opposition was

enacted retroactively. Do you think this is democratic?

Because if I think about your situation, imagine, if you would have ended your

political career, I mean, others would have ended your political

career in

twenty-nineteen,

you would have not become minister twice, if I believe.

You would have not become commissioner. You wouldn't be here.

About a hundred and sixty members of the European Parliament also

wouldn't be here today.

And in Hungary, as I said, half of the opposition members of

parliament can no longer run because of a brand-new law

applied retroactively. The leader of the largest opposition

party is banned from running and is banned from becoming prime

minister ever again.

And unlike the far left and many people in this house,

I do not wish any kind of punishment from Brussels

against my country. I don't want money suspended.

In fact, I want the EU funds to be paid out to

Hungary as soon as possible.

But I do have one question.

With your silent support,

do you understand the precedent you are setting for every new election from

now on, not only in Hungary, but elsewhere in Europe?

And we have elections coming up in France, in Italy, in Poland,

in Spain. If this were to happen in any other country,

would you also be silent? Thank you.