Egypt gears up to host Barcelona Convention COP24 on Mediterranean Pollution in December    Egypt to host 3rd Global Conference on Population, Health and Human Development in November    Egypt to host inaugural AI Everything Middle East & Africa Summit in February 2026    Norway's wealth fund investments in Israel dominate election, could decide government    Egypt's military production, petroleum ministries drive projects to boost citizens' economic gains    Egypt implements EGP 12.7bn water, wastewater projects in Northwest Coast in 2024    Egypt backs UN plan for Libyan elections within 12-18 months    South Korea's Lee in Japan for talks ahead of crucial Trump meeting    Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Hungary's Orban to tackle EU lawmakers over censure move
Published in The Egyptian Gazette on 11 - 09 - 2018

Strasbourg, France, September 11, 2018 (New Wires) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban confronts his critics on Tuesday in the European Parliament on the eve of a vote to censure his right-wing populist government.
Orban plans to deliver a "frank and outspoken" defence of his stance before the European Parliament, which will decide whether to start steps that could lead to political sanctions against Hungary.
Budapest argues that its anti-migrant measures and defence of sovereign rights are in tune with the mood of European voters -- who will elect a new parliament in Strasbourg next May.
But Judith Sargentini, who is spearheading a vote on Wednesday on whether to take action against Hungary, warned her fellow MEPs that the 28-nation bloc's founding values are at stake.
"Do you want the rule of law?" demanded Sargentini, a left-wing Green MEP from the Netherlands.
Her proposed resolution warns that Hungary's actions represent a "systemic threat" to the bloc's democratic founding values.
It voices concerns about the Hungarian judiciary's independence, corruption, freedom of expression, academic freedom, religious freedom, and the rights of minorities and refugees.
Addressing the parliament ahead of Orban, Greek leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said: "Pro-European forces have a duty to stand side by side. We should not let Europe slide back to the past."
Opposition to Orban's vision does not just come from the left.
There is disquiet in the main centre right parliamentary group, the European People's Party (EPP), about his position, despite it including his Fidesz party.
"MEPs from the centre right have a clear choice next week," declared Guy Verhofstadt, head of the liberal ALDE group.
"Support freedom and EU values by sanctioning Orban, or capitulate to far right populists who promote unfreedom."
It would be the first time the European Parliament votes to take steps under article seven of European Union treaties, which could ultimately deny Hungary its EU voting rights.
But the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, launched similar steps under article seven against Poland in December last year over its alleged threat to the independence of the courts.
Poland's ally Hungary has pledged to veto any move to impose such penalties on Warsaw, which would effectively block the measure.
Nor is it clear whether Sargentini's preliminary procedure will win the necessary two-thirds support of the assembly.
While Orban's actions have provoked opposition, they have been applauded by populists elsewhere in the EU, with several prominent far-right figures floating the idea of a pan-European populist alliance ahead of 2019 elections for the bloc.
On Monday the leader of Austria's far-right party, Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, said he would "gladly" invite Orban's party into a common bloc, and Italy's new far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has also expressed admiration for Orban.


Clic here to read the story from its source.