“Why do you think I’m not an ally of women? I live with four women, I have three daughters and I live with my wife, don’t you consider me an ally of women? This is how the candidate for reappointment as European commissioner of the Hungarian far right Viktor Orbán defended himself against the accusations of misogyny and the questioning on the right to abortion which were posed to him this Wednesday in Parliament European, where he took the exam this Wednesday. Wednesday will continue at the European Commission, this time in the animal health and welfare portfolio.
Progressive forces questioned him on the rights of the LGTBI community and women, notably on abortion in the face of the obstacles that his government has placed in Hungary, where the obligation to first listen to the heartbeat of the fetus . Before establishing himself as an “ally” of women through his wife and daughters, Orbán’s candidate had left legislation on abortion on the roof of the Member States.
“This is a question of constitutional law and human rights, and not so much a medical question. It is also a national prerogative, there is no European competence in matters of abortion,” he said: “Each Member State adopts a different position. “These are societal options and decisions. » What he assured was that sexual and reproductive rights “are part of human rights” and, when questioned by LGTBI people, he stressed that “access to health is a fundamental right » and that “gender doesn’t matter”.
Varhely is one of the weak elements in the college of commissioners that Ursula von der Leyen designed on the basis of the proposals that governments made to her, even if she relegated him from the neighborhood and enlargement portfolio, which will be one of the most relevant issues within the legislature, to animal health and welfare. But relations between the far-right politician and parliamentarians, whom he once described as “idiots” during his last mandate, have not been good.
But the European Parliament’s revenge remains half complete. Varhely was not knocked down, although he received a warning. After this Wednesday’s examination, he did not obtain the confidence of two thirds of the coordinators of the committees who examined him, as the 15 other candidates passed by the European Parliament have done so far. Socialists, liberals, Greens and the left opposed his green light. Ultimately, the decision adopted was to force him to respond to the questions in writing.
“He didn’t convince us from the first audition. It seemed too business-oriented, lacked commitment to animal welfare and did not respect standards for women’s health or reproductive rights,” say the Social Democrats, who are awaiting “clarification” from writing. “How can we support a Health Commissioner who is not capable of criticizing a Member State – his own – which chose Russian and Chinese coronavirus vaccines instead of those approved in Europe, and who is not not able to explain how he will do it? helping women in the EU safely access their sexual and reproductive health care and rights, and who claims to be on the side of women because he has four at home? », asks liberal MEP Pascal Canfin.
Once he answers the questions in writing, the coordinators of the parliamentary committees that will examine Varhely will have to meet again to see if he passes the filter, for which he needs two-thirds support (he has that of three far-right forces). , but needs more support from the rest of the groups). In the event that he does not obtain this percentage, he will be summoned to a new oral examination, after which he will require the support of two thirds of the coordinators or, if it is not obtained, of a simple majority (more than yes and no) of all. MEPs from the relevant committees (Environment and Agriculture).
If rejected, Orbán would have to make a new proposal, which would be put through the process again. In the past, the European Parliament has always excluded candidates, as during the last mandate of Emmanuel Macron or the first Hungarian candidate. The problem now is that the launch of the new community government, scheduled for December 1, would be delayed (even more).
