Watch: PACE Place Hungary Under 'Full Monitoring Procedure'
- 14 Oct 2022 6:43 AM
- Hungary Matters
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Wednesday voted to place Hungary under a full monitoring procedure, citing long-standing rule-of-law issues.
A country report said the issues cited “remained largely unaddressed”.
“The widespread use of cardinal laws, which require two-thirds majorities, severely restricts political pluralism, which is the hallmark of a democratic system”.
It added that the current electoral system “does not ensure a level playing field conducive to fair elections”.
The assembly also raised concerns about Hungary’s using a special legal order since 2020 and said it “allows the triggering of a state of danger”.
Such orders, the assembly said, should be “strictly necessary, proportionate and must be limited in time”.
The assembly, at the same time, acknowledged 17 amendments the Hungarian government announced last month, aimed at improving the operations of democratic institutions, increasing transparency and making conflict of interest rules more stringent.
Fidesz Lawmaker: PACE Backs Illegal Migration in New Report
A recent Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) report “backs illegal migration”, Fidesz Barna Pál Zsigmond said in Strasbourg on the sidelines of PACE’s autumn session.
“Europe’s left wing is again talking about taking in illegal migrants,” Zsigmond told MTI.
The report, Zsigmond said, contained proposals on managing migration and accepting illegal migrants, while failing to address the importance of border protection.
He accused the left wing of “attacking Hungary” in view of the country’s position that migration should be prevented rather than managed.
The government, he said, has enacted measures that help to protect Europe, Hungary and the security of Hungarians.
Hungary is protecting its borders in line with obligations set down in international treaties, he said, adding it maintains its position that Europe must be protected against limitless waves of illegal migrants.
War refugees, however, must be provided all possible support, he said.
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