Barley makes serious allegations against the EU Commission after Orbán's victory

The deputy chairwoman of the European Parliament, Katarina Barley (SPD), made serious allegations against the EU Commission after Viktor Orbán's election victory in Hungary.

Brussels - "The EU has been watching Orbán's activities for twelve years and has done nothing", Barley told Der Spiegel. It watched how slice by slice democracy was abolished in Hungary." Orban's victory cements "the EU's failure to protect its core democratic values."

Barley criticized that it was a "colossal mistake" by the EU Commission not to apply the rule of law mechanism that was decided about a year ago. If the EU acts now, there is a risk that Orbán will say: "The Hungarian people have made their decision, and the EU is taking action against us because they don't like this decision." The former Federal Minister of Justice warned of a copycat effect in other EU countries.

"Some states are watching closely how easy it is to get away with autocratic behavior," she said. You have to tell them clearly: "We will not tolerate your dismantling of democracy and the rule of law," said Barley. The European Union must send out this signal now before it is too late.

Source: Der Newsticker

Photo: Picture Alliance.