Europe Orban visit sparks political boxing match in the EU Parliament
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and several MEPs had a heated exchange of blows with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the European Parliament.
The accusations: nepotism, misuse of EU funds and Hungary as a gateway for Russian and Chinese interests. In Strasbourg, Orban criticized what he saw as the EU's failed migration policy. He sees the speakers' criticism - which came from the ranks of the Christian Democrats, Liberals and Social Democrats, among others - as lies and propaganda. "It's a kind of intifada that is being organized here," said the head of government.
Von der Leyen takes Orban to task
In her almost ten-minute speech, von der Leyen launched one attack after another: the Hungarian government had released people smugglers from prison early, allowed Russians into the country without additional security checks and allowed the Chinese police to work in Hungary. "This is not a defense of European sovereignty. This is a back door for foreign interference," said the German politician. Orban was only throwing his problems over the fence to his neighbors.
Von der Leyen is thus voicing much of the same criticism that has also been heard from the ranks of major political groups. In the coming weeks, the CDU politician will still need their support in order for Parliament to give the green light to her proposal for the composition of the future EU Commission.
The European Commission, non-governmental organizations and MEPs have long accused Hungary of violating European values. Criticisms include a lack of the rule of law and restrictions on freedom of expression. The ECJ recently ruled that Hungary was not complying with EU law and imposed a fine of millions.
Relationship with Russia criticized
Von der Leyen indirectly accused Orban of not keeping his word. After Russia's attack on Ukraine, all EU heads of state and government had decided to become less dependent on Russian energy and to look for alternatives. One member state in particular, however, was only looking for alternatives as to how it could continue to buy Russian energy.
Orban also attacked critics by name. In his closing statement, Orban described the German MEP Daniel Freund (Greens) as the "most corrupt person on this earth" because he uses money from the Jewish US billionaire George Soros for reports on Hungary. The Hungarian government has repeatedly used anti-Semitic stereotypes to stir up public opinion against Soros, a Holocaust survivor from Hungary. Freund is one of Orban's most vehement opponents in the EU Parliament. FDP MEP Moritz Körner sees Orban as a "useful idiot of China" and Russia who is acting against the interests of the EU. "The majority of MEPs see Orban as nothing more than a corrupt would-be autocrat."
Orban focuses on migration
In his opening speech, Orban called for regular summits of the heads of state and government of the Schengen states in response to "illegal migration" into the EU. There is a risk that the Schengen area, which is actually free of border controls, could break apart. It currently comprises 25 of the 27 EU member states as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Specifically, Orban wants asylum procedures to be carried out in external "hotspots" in countries outside the EU in future.
Illegal migration leads to growing anti-Semitism, increasing violence against women and growing homophobia, Orban claimed. The growing migratory pressure over the years is a significant burden - especially for member states with an external EU border. The current European asylum system is simply not working.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen replied in a speech that everyone understood that migration was a European challenge that required a European solution. However, the new migration and asylum package exists for this purpose and must now be implemented.
SDA
