Orban called for Jourova’s resignation in a letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which was published on Tuesday.
“According to the vice president, in Hungary a ‘sick democracy’ is being built,” Orban said.
EU leaders have in recent months criticized Orban over moves that they believe put the judiciary, media and academics under more state control. Speaking with Reuters on Friday, Orban denied undermining democracy.
The European Parliament also singled out Poland, claiming on September 17 that the situation surrounding the rule of law there has seriously deteriorated. Some European politicians have long called on the bloc to tie EU funds to adherence to the rule of law. But Poland’s Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro said Warsaw will oppose any such plans.
Nevertheless, an EU investigation is continuing into Hungary and Poland allegedly “undermining the independence” of the judiciary, media and non-governmental organizations.
Brussels will soon discuss an EU report on the rule of law, but Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto believes it will be a political statement, rather than any well-founded assessment.
Budapest and Warsaw in turn are setting up a joint institute to assess the state of rule of law across EU member states so that they are “not taken for fools” over allegations of rule of law breaches, Szijjarto said on Monday, lamenting that he’d “had enough of some western European politicians using us as a punchbag.”
If you like this story, share it with a friend!
© 2020, paradox. All rights reserved.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Saturday unveiled his first picks for the new cabinet,…
One person was killed and at least four others wounded in a Ukrainian rocket strike…
We have been through an intense, if muffled crisis in the ongoing political-military confrontation between…
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky claimed on Friday that Russian forces have launched a new large-scale…
NATO soldiers are already in Ukraine helping Kiev but the US-led bloc does not want…
Russia has celebrated the 79th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War II…