The European Commission remains silent while the Tisza government is dismantling Hungarian democracy in a manner unprecedented in Europe

The Tisza government is dismantling Hungarian democracy, restricting democratic political competition, and curtailing the right to vote in Hungary in a manner unprecedented in Europe. The European Commission, which previously criticized Hungary for years on the grounds of the rule of law and withheld EU funds due rightfully to Hungarians, is now remaining silent. At today’s joint meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets and Committee on Budgetary Control—where a discussion was held with three EU commissioners on EU funds allocated to Hungary and the state of rule of law—Tamás Deutsch, Csaba Dömötör, and András László drew attention to the fact that the tailor-made removal of the President of the Republic, the retroactive restructuring of the Constitutional Court, constitutional amendments aimed at excluding opposition politicians, restrictions on political competition and restrictions on citizens’ right to vote freely are developments to which the European Commission must respond immediately and unequivocally.

In his speech, Tamás Deutsch emphasized: the Tisza government removed the incumbent president from office with a single constitutional amendment, dismantled the Constitutional Court through personalized and retroactive legislation, restricted the right to vote, and is preparing to establish a political police force that would operate with limited judicial oversight. He pointed out that while the European Commission had previously taken a regular stance on the rule of law in Hungary, it is now maintaining a deep silence.

Csaba Dömötör recalled that the European Commission withheld a significant portion of Hungary’s EU funds for years, citing concerns about the rule of law. Now, however, it is not speaking out, even though the recently adopted constitutional amendment retroactively prevents the opposition leader from running again as candidate for prime minister and caps the term of office for members of parliament at twelve years. He also highlighted that if the same rules were applied in the European Union, numerous current European leaders—including senior officials of the European Parliament and the prime ministers of several member states—would also be barred from running for re-election.

András László pointed out that the removal of the President of the Republic is only the first step. Public threats have been directed at the President of the Constitutional Court and several constitutional judges, as well as the heads of the Supreme Court, the State Audit Office, the Media Authority, and the Office of the Prosecutor General. The government is systematically dismantling the system of independent institutions.

Fidesz–KDNP Members of the European Parliament have called on the European Commission to state unequivocally if it considers retroactive constitutional amendments, restrictions on political competition, retroactive limitations on parliamentary mandates and the removal of the heads of independent institutions on political grounds to be compatible with European democratic standards. However, Commission representatives did not provide any substantive answers to any of the questions posed during the hearing.

According to the Fidesz–KDNP delegation to the European Parliament, democratic principles apply equally to all member states. If Brussels only speaks out when it serves its political interests, then the rule of law and democratic principles are not shared European values, but rather become political weapons. The Commission’s current silence is clear evidence of a double standard.