The S&D Group today voted in favour of a resolution calling for an investigation into violations of fundamental rights by the government of Victor Orbán in Hungary. Unfortunately a proposal calling for the triggering of Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union, which could have led to future sanctions against the Hungarian government, failed to get a majority after being blocked by the combined forces of the extreme right and the EPP.
Birgit Sippel, S&D spokesperson for civil liberties, justice and home affairs, said:
"We are not just talking about isolated instances from Orbán and his cronies in the Fidesz party. From authorising the army to fire on refugees to threatening to reinstate the death penalty, we are seeing a deliberate and persistent disregard for common European values. Today was an opportunity to send a message to the Hungarian people that we stand up for their basic rights even if their own government does not. This is why it is disappointing that Orbán's friends in the EPP and the extreme right banded together to block any possibility of triggering article 7.
"This is not just a Hungarian issue but one that is important for all European citizens. For a club to work you must have certain rules and standards that each member needs to meet. We must have the ability to sanction governments who are consistently in breach of the fundamental values of the EU. Despite today's set back we will continue the fight to ensure a complete and accurate mechanism to ensure respect for democracy, the rule of law and human rights by all member states. This should take the form of a 'Scoreboard on Democracy.'
"We will continue to support the work of civil society organisations - such as those who launched the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) http://www.act4democracy.eu/ - who fight for democracy and the rule of law across Europe. We also hope that the EPP will finally wake and see what an unpleasant role model Mr Orbán is providing for the rest of Europe."
