The European Parliament has not experienced such an atmosphere for several years. On Wednesday, October 9, the arrival of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Strasbourg to present the priorities of the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), which began on October 1.Ahem Julio electrified a chamber more accustomed to formal exchanges.
Thirteen years into his first presidency of the EU Council, Viktor Orban, the strongman of the far-right group Patriotes de l’Europe, belonging to the National Rally (RN), faced an avalanche of criticism from the conservative, liberal and left-wing parties, but also Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the Commission. He never gave up and responded systematically. “It was one of the liveliest debates this Parliament has seen in recent years”greets German environmental MEP Daniel Freund.
The one who assures “I want to change Europe”provide it with a competitiveness pact and “external platforms”, filter entries in the Old Continent to “protect Europeans from illegal migration”He failed to convince his detractors. His conservative, liberal and progressive opponents have constantly reminded him of his illiberal and authoritarian drift since 2010.
“Today you are alone! »
“Mr Orbán, His current presidency is only a shadow of the previous one, attacked Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party (EPP). In 2011 you held 44 meetings in Budapest and closed 103 files. Nowadays, almost no one wants to come see you and you have no concrete achievements under your belt. At that time you were in the center of Europe; Today you are alone! »
Iratxe García, president of the Social Democratic group (S&D), accused the president of the Government of using “false patriotism to overthrow democracy, survive in corruption and violate the rights of those who do not think like [lui] “. “Viktor Orban’s dystopian vision for Europe is the path to unfreedom and European decline”continued Valérie Hayer of Renew. Only far-right groups, starting with the Patriots, supported the head of the Hungarian Government for his position on migration and the defense of traditional values.
However, it was Ursula von der Leyen who left her mark. In a scathing speech, he recalled that “Hungarians were part of the European family”but attacked Viktor Orban’s policies like never before, leaving the latter totally stunned and dismayed by “inappropriate comments” of a “President of the Commission who should not engage in politics, but only be guardian of the treaties”.
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