Boycott of Patriots for Europe a “Textbook Example” of Disrespect for Democracy

It is inadmissible that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, uses the EU institutions for her own re-election campaign, said Kinga Gál, Fidesz MEP and Vice President of the Patriots for Europe EP group, in Strasbourg on Tuesday.

The MEP was commenting on the Commission President’s decision on Monday that her institution would be represented at senior civil servant level only during informal meetings of the EU Council and that the College of Commissioners, including members of the European Commission, would not visit Hungary. According to Kinga Gál, “it has become common practice for von der Leyen to pursue political objectives in cases where she should not do so.”

An example of this is the withholding of EU funds that Hungary is rightfully entitled to, which she has effectively used for blackmail and pressure,”

she pointed out. She recalled that a Vice President of the EU Commission, Margaritis Skinas, had already spoken openly about this and admitted that withholding funds could be used as a form of pressure.

The Fidesz politician pointed out that what von der Leyen was doing was in practice contrary to everything that concerns good-faith cooperation between the institutions and the way they operate. In her opinion, it is not up to von der Leyen or the European Commission to say with whom they cooperate or not, because “we are talking about rules that have been laid down and have worked well so far.”

“Just because von der Leyen has to win the presidential election on Thursday and the votes for re-election seem to be hard to come by, she should not take such a step,” she said.

She added that

the Patriots for Europe group also believes that “the unprincipled pacts, political games and blackmail by the Commission must end and that a change is needed against both the Brussels bureaucracy and the beneficiaries of these pacts and the maintainers of the status quo.”

Regarding the fact that Socialist, Liberal, Green, Left and EPP politicians would prevent any member of the Patriots for Europe group from holding a parliamentary leadership post, Kinga Gál said

this is a textbook example of how the mainstream in the EP does not respect the rules of democracy.”

She added that it was “ridiculous and outrageous, because those who preach and lecture about democracy and the rule of law are themselves not respecting the basic rules of democracy, and are even defying them.”

She also thinks it is possible that this case could end up in court, because under the parliamentary system the Patriots for Europe group is entitled to two vice-presidencies and one major seat. “They are trying to ignore this, just because they do not like the political color of the group. That is how the group would be punished because it does not represent a position of war, but is fighting for peace,” she stressed.

Via MTI, Featured image: Facebook/Orbán Viktor