“I am dealing with human rights issues in the Congress for 33 years now and these changes really had a great effect on me,” said Representative Chris Smith. Referring to the ongoing discussions between the Hungarian government and the Venice Commission, the Congressman emphasized that reform legislation is often subject to fine-tuning.

First elected to Congress in 1981, Smith represents the 4th district of New Jersey and serves as co-chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, sometimes referred to as the US Helsinki Commission.

The kind of coverage that follows last week’s vote in Strasbourg on the Tavares Report tends to focus on the arguments of the critics, overlooking the political divide and the fact that the parliament had overstepped the authority given to it in the basic EU treaty. Fact is, a number of influential figures dissent from the critical view.

You may recall Congressman Smith’s statement to the Helsinki Commission hearing on Hungary back in March in which he pointed out that many of the criticisms “are unfair, use double standards, misinterpretations, or incorrect information” and that “checks and balances are alive and well in Hungary.”

Smith’s comments were echoed by Constitutional Law Professor and former German federal minister, Dr. Rupert Scholz who said that, the “Hungarian Fundamental Law is exemplary in guaranteeing civil and human rights.” No matter, how hard the political family of the Hungarian opposition (and opposition oriented non-politicians) try to convince the public otherwise, reforms in Hungarian legislation respect values and rights just as well as any other European democracy does – in some cases to an even greater degree. An increasing number of international opinion leaders feel moved to stand up and speak clearly in its defense.

Source: A Blog About Hungary

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