Free Republic

The European Parliament has voted to pursue unprecedented disciplinary action against Hungary over alleged breaches of the EU's core values. Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government has been accused of attacks on the media, minorities, and the rule of law - charges which he denies.

Mr Farage spoke highly about the country’s leader Viktor Orban and urged him to not stand to be lectured by the EU but instead follow the UK’s lead and simply leave the bloc. The comments come a day before MEPs are set to vote on whether to trigger Article 7, which is an EU law drafted to ensure respect for democracy and the rule of law as they are worried Hungary is becoming a dictatorship. Mr Orban has said that triggering Article 7 would be an “abuse of power” of the EU. Brussels is concerned with Mr Orban's attitude towards...

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Friday said that Hungary sees a strong Poland as a vital component of a central European caucus within the European Union and that he would, therefore, block any action to suspend Poland’s voting rights in the EU. The European Commission recently launched proceedings to trigger Article 7 against Poland for breaching European common values and rule of law. “We need to make it clear to the EU that it is pointless to even start proceedings against Poland as there is no chance of seeing it through — because Hungary will be there and form...

The European Commission on Tuesday (11 March) announced a new measure to challenge member states in breach of EU rule of law. The proposal would allow the European Union to intervene at an early stage in case of “serious and systemic threats” to the rule of law in member states. Isolated cases of breaches of fundamental rights or miscarriages of justice are excluded from its scope. […] The plan is described as a missing element between a standard infringement procedure and the “nuclear option” of Article 7, which withdraws a member state’s voting rights at the EU level. Article 7...

Senator John Kerry announced yesterday that he plans to pass the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities before July 26—just 13 days from today. He has scheduled a formal committee vote next Thursday—July 19. This is an unprecedented attempt to jam a binding international treaty through the Senate without proper time for debate or consideration.