EU parliament wants Hungary on the criminal court

A majority of the European Parliament (448 for, 197 against and 48 abstentions) is in favor of activating the toughest criminal proceedings against Hungary.

It agreed with the conclusions of the rapporteur Judith Sargentini (GroenLinks) that the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been taking measures since 2010 that erode the rule of law and democracy. In this way, the independent media and academic world are thwarted, aid agencies thwarted and independent judges replaced by 'friends' of the government.

The parliament now calls on the member states to invoke the so-called Article 7 of the EU treaty for Hungary. As a result, the country can ultimately be deprived of the right to vote in the Council of Ministers, but all EU governments must agree on this.