EU Parliament criticizes Orban's travels in resolution

The newly elected European Parliament voted on its first-ever resolution on Wednesday, with MEPs declaring their support for Ukraine by a clear majority and criticizing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

The parliament describes Orban’s recent trips as a “flagrant violation of the EU treaties and the EU’s common foreign policy.” They require “consequences.” The resolution is not binding, but it is seen as an important signal.

According to the Parliament, the resolution was supported by the European People's Party, the Social Democrats, the European Conservatives and Reformists, the Liberal Renewal Party and the Greens, and was adopted by a majority of 495 votes in favour, 137 against and 47 abstentions.

FPÖ builds wall for Orban

The decision was criticized by the head of the FPÖ delegation, Harald Vilimsky. At a press conference in Strasbourg, he described Orbán as “the only voice in this madhouse.” Recently, the leader of the Austrian Freedom Party, Herbert Kickl, founded the far-right faction “Patriots for Europe” together with Orbán and the leader of the Czech National Struggle organization, Andrej Babis.

The head of the ÖVP delegation, Reinhold Lopatka, found it “right that Orbán's individual efforts should be condemned for what they are”. He presented himself in a “position he does not have”. However, like Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), he spoke out against the declared boycott of the Hungarian Council presidency by individual member states and the EU Commission.

Sharp criticism from NEOS and the Greens

Orbán is playing a “terrible double game,” said Helmut Brandstätter, head of the NEOS delegation. “In Hungary he explains how terrible the EU is. Then he goes to autocrats and dictators and explains to them that he works for the EU. That’s not true, that’s harmful to the EU.” It must be clear to him “behind closed doors that he has abused his position.”

The Hungarian prime minister is “unfit for work because of his behaviour,” said Thomas Weitz, head of the Green delegation. “It is true that many ministers say this is a waste of time.” According to Weitz, depriving Hungary of voting rights in the EU Council will not work because it requires unanimity.

In a letter to the heads of EU institutions, 63 MEPs called for Hungary to be stripped of its voting rights. From Austria, NEOS MEPs Brandstätter and Anna Storch and Deputy Prime Minister Lukas Mandl signed the letter.