Tibor Bana, the deputy leader of conservative opposition Jobbik, on Wednesday said the party will call on its members to support Hungary’s membership in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).
Addressing a press conference, Bana, who is also deputy head of parliament’s European affairs committee, said the ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliance on Tuesday voted down his party’s initiative to hold a parliamentary debate on Hungary joining the EPPO.
He said parliament’s Jobbik-turned-independent lawmakers had “joined the government’s deceitful and hypocritical chorus” that says joining the office is a sovereignty issue and voted against the initiative. Bana added that under the current plan, the EPPO would only be responsible for monitoring the use of European Union funds by member states.
MP János Volner, who left Jobbik after being expelled from its parliamentary group earlier this month, made a surprise appearance at the press conference, criticising his former party for having changed its tune on the EPPO since the general election campaign. Volner said Jobbik had made “no mention” of wanting Hungary to join the institution in its election programme and had instead been in favour of setting up an anti-corruption agency. He said there was no need for the creation of a new EU body, arguing that “we Hungarians need to solve our own problems.”
via MTI