Deputies of the European Parliament recognized Hungary as an “electoral autocracy”.
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The majority of the organization’s members (433) supported the adoption of a document proposing to regard Hungary as a state with a “hybrid regime of electoral autocracy.” This form of government implies regular elections, during which the norms of democracy are observed only externally.
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Parliamentarians accuse Viktor Orban, who has been the country’s prime minister from 1998 to 2002 and from 2010 to the present, for undermining traditional European values.
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Those who voted for the document say that the politician created a threat to journalism, the electoral system and the judiciary in Hungary. According to the deputies, Orban has belittled the rights of his citizens: in particular, he allows interference in private life, does not protect national minorities and LGBT people. The European Union does not like cooperation with the Russian Federation against the backdrop of a special operation in Ukraine.
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123 deputies did not agree with this opinion, 28 more decided to abstain.
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Such a statement against a member of the European Union is the first in history. The document does not provide for sanctions, but allows “putting pressure” on the state – for example, “intimidating” a possible freeze on the share of the budget allocated to Hungary by the European Union.
