He said ultimately the question arises of whether a country can remain an EU member if it violates basic principles of democracy.

A freeze of EU subsidies could be a possibility as a less severe measure, he added.

Tuomioja argued that Hungary’s new constitution transforms the balance of power in an alarming way, increasing the government’s potential for interference with the central bank, granting the prosecutor general “sweeping” licences and allowing the three-member Budget Council to veto future budgets.

“If a country with a constitution like this were to apply for membership in the EU, it would not be accepted,” he added."

Source: Hungary Around the Clock

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