During yesterday’s session, the European deputies voted to initiate a sanctions procedure against Hungary, in accordance with Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union.
For the first time, the Parliament found that there was indeed a “clear risk of a serious breach” of the founding values of the European Union. While the vote remains symbolic – the final decision lies with the Council of the Member States – its political impact is very significant.
Moreover, it still compels the European right to clarify its positions.
The initiation of this procedure required the agreement of two-thirds of the chamber. And although the Sargentini report received support from the Greens, Socialists (S&D), Liberals (ALDE), and the European United Left (GUE/NGL), it was the position of the European People’s Party (EPP, right-wing), to which Viktor Orban’s party (Fidesz) belongs, that was decisive: one hundred and sixteen EPP deputies voted in favor of the resolution.
With this vote – 448 in favor, 197 against, and 48 abstentions – the European Parliament asks the Member States (the Council) to confirm the existence of a “clear risk of a serious breach” (Article 7.1 TEU) by Hungary of the Union’s values. These include respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, as well as respect for human rights (Article 2 of the TEU).
Until now, the EPP “family” had neither challenged Viktor Orbán’s anti-migrant and anti-EU positions, representative of illiberalism in Europe, nor his infringements on the rule of law.
The positions of the French MEPs who are members of the EPP clearly illustrate that “the clarification of the political line, which has been much talked about lately, is more than necessary.
The French LR-PPE deputies who voted against the resolution, such as Nadine Morano, Franck Proust, and Angelique Delahaye, or abstained like Brice Hortefeux (“Who are we to lecture the Hungarians?”), do they adhere to Orban’s national-populist and illiberal line?
A few months ahead of the electoral consultation that will pit pro-European progressives against sovereigntists, on which side will the right-wing party stand, knowing the euroscepticism of its president Laurent Wauquiez?
