EU Parliament Panel Blocks Hungary's Push to Lift Immunity From Orbán Rival and Two Other MEPs
The closed-door vote signals distrust of Budapest’s prosecutions during a charged run-up to Hungary’s April election.
Overview
- The European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee rejected Hungary’s request to remove Péter Magyar’s protection from prosecution.
- The panel also preserved the immunities of Klára Dobrev and Italian MEP Ilaria Salis, who had been jailed in Hungary before winning a seat.
- Viktor Orbán condemned the outcome on Facebook as “shameful, disgraceful,” and accused Magyar of being “Brussels’ man.”
- MEPs opposed lifting immunity on grounds that the alleged offenses occurred while the lawmakers were serving and, for Salis, over concerns about a fair trial in Hungary.
- Magyar’s Tisza party has climbed in polls, reportedly overtaking Fidesz ahead of national elections expected in April.