More than 200 civil society organisations have signed a letter asking members of the European parliament to reject the nomination of Hungarian MEP Balázs Hidvéghi for vice-chairmanship of the parliament’s committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs (LIBE), Euronews has reported.
The European Civic Forum, incorporating NGOs from 23 European countries, has also called on the EU parliamentary group of the European People’s Party, of which the Fidesz MEP is a member, to “review their candidate” for the position of vice-chair over the Hungarian government’s attacks on civil society and the rule of law.
Commenting on the issue, Mr Hidvéghi told Euronews that the committee in question is “the most migrant-friendly”. Hungarian ruling party MP Lőrinc Nacsa supported his colleague in the EU parliament, saying that the NGOs signing the petition “belong to the international Soros network”.
The LIBE committee is responsible for monitoring developments on the rule of law and the civil society, as well as preparing reports and recommendations for the European parliament.
Last September, the European parliament overwhelmingly supported a report from the committee that started so-called Article 7 proceedings against the Hungarian government over alleged deterioration of the rule of law in the country.
Finland, which took over the EU’s rotating presidency on July 1, is expected to push for stricter rule of law measures against the Hungarian government and to continue the stalled proceedings later this year.
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