EU Rejects Hungary’s Call For Ouster Of Rule-Of-Law Official
By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News in Budapest
(Worthy News) – The European Union’s executive has rejected a demand by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to dismiss its top rule of law official for comments about Hungary’s “ailing democracy.”
On Monday, Orbán wrote to European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, asking that she dismisses the Brussels-based EU executive, Věra Jourová.
“According to the Vice President [rule-of-law official Jourová] in Hungary, a ‘sick democracy’ is being built,” Orbán wrote in his letter, which was published on Tuesday.
He referred to Jourová’s recent comments in Germany’s influential Der Spiegel magazine. Jourová, a liberal politician, said that “Orbán likes to say that he is building an illiberal democracy,” adding that in her opinion, “he is building an ‘ill’ democracy.”
Orbán’s angry remarks, unprecedented for an EU leader, came ahead of the release of the Commission’s first-ever report on the rule of law across all the 27 EU member states.
Hungary is among those targeted for a perceived crackdown on independent media, the judiciary, and other previously independent institutions as well as massive corruption.
Orbán, 57, has also clashed with the EU over his hardline stance on migration and minorities, as state control over, academics and NGOs.
GERMANY CONCERNED
His latest outburst also came after Germany, current president of the European Union, announced it wants to link access to EU money, including the 750 billion euro coronavirus recovery fund, to respecting the rule of law.
Hungary and Poland, the other country questioned over its democratic credentials, announced they would set up their “institute for the rule of law” to control other EU member states.
Prime Minister Orbán also threatened to veto coronavirus recovery payments if they are linked to the rule-of-law, which could impact funds allocated to hard-hit nations such as Spain and Italy.
Critics say his call for the removal of Jourová is remarkable as she is a Czech who has a history of standing up against Soviet-imposed communist rule in eastern Europe after World War Two.
”President von der Leyen works closely with Vice-President Jourová on the rule of law. The Vice-President has the President’s full trust,” a Commission spokesperson told reporters when asked about Orbán’s letter.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Critics in the EU and rights groups say he defends nation states and ethnic minorities at the expense of fundamental human rights and democratic checks and balances.
Orbán, a staunch supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, has rejected that criticism.
“When somebody says that democracy can be only liberal it’s an oppression,” Orbán said in an interview.
He called claims that Hungary violates the rule of law “simply blah, blah, blah”.
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