The Justice Minister continues to expect Brussels to give the Hungarian government a chance to state its position in the plenary debate about Hungary to be held in the European Parliament.
On Wednesday, in an interview given to Kossuth Radio’s programme ‘Good morning, Hungary’, Judit Varga highlighted it is still uncertain whether she will be allowed to speak in the debate on the Hungarian coronavirus legislation, despite the fact that all fundamental principles of the rule of law, the right to a fair trial and democracy would dictate this. These are fundamental values, over which Hungary is “hypocritically and continually” taken to task, she added.
The Minister said it is morally reprehensible that left-wing groups in Europe repeatedly bring up the issue of the rule of law in Hungary at a time when in Europe, due to the epidemic, people are dying in the thousands and are losing their jobs in the millions.
“I am not convinced that behind all this we wouldn’t find an initiative of Hungarian left-wing MEPs, that they are not the ones responsible for writing the script,” she said.
Ms. Varga asked the question: now that this debate is taking place, should not inviting the Hungarian government be the EP’s first and most natural response?
“There is a good chance that we will again have to listen to the usual accusations levelled at the country,” she said.
She stressed she believes it is her duty to ensure at any cost that the government’s position to the contrary should be heard so that those who follow the debate should have a better understanding of the truth.
The Justice Minister also said there is no written rule regarding who should represent governments in plenary debates. There have been a number of occasions when state secretaries represented one country or another on the issue of Article Seven, she said, adding that we are living in extraordinary times when heads of state and government “are overseeing the containment efforts in their own countries, and have no time to pay visits to Brussels”.
She underlined that the only democratic response from Brussels is to allow her to be present, while a measure to the contrary will have diplomatic consequences.
Ms. Varga recalled the European Commission itself had confirmed that the Hungarian coronavirus legislation was in harmony with European norms.
She highlighted that the Hungarian government is adopting measures in the state of danger which serve to protect people’s lives and health and seek to minimise economic losses.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán replied in a message to President of the European Parliament David Sassoli who invited him to the plenary debate on Hungary to be held in the European Parliament on Thursday. In this, the Prime Minister pointed out that at present he was focusing all his strength and energies on the containment of the epidemic, and so Minister for Justice and EU Affairs Judit Varga will be able to attend the debate. The Prime Minister also drew the EP President’s attention to the fact that on behalf of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union a state secretary will attend.