Fidesz MEP Ádám Kósa has accused the European Parliament (EP) of interfering in Hungary’s internal affairs with a view to aiding the general election campaign of the country’s left-wing opposition.
Kósa told a press conference in Budapest on Thursday that he was outraged by the turn of events at a recent meeting of the EP’s Committee on Budgetary Control, with the announcement by the Greens of a public hearing into the use of EU budget funds. Normally such a hearing would be preceded by months of preparation, but it is set to take place in few days’ time, he said.
Kósa added that in spite of the general nature of the subject, only professionals and politicians dealing with Hungary had been nominated as speakers. Ákos Hadházy, an opposition MP, and Gabriella Nagy, head of Transparency International Hungary, have been invited to brief the public hearing, he said, adding that an American law professor who is often sharply critical of Hungary would also participate. At the last minute, three EP factions ensured that Transparency International’s Czech office manager would replace the Hungarian one, Kósa noted.
While government representatives are usually invited to this kind of meeting, this time they have been omitted, Kósa said, adding this was “unethical” and unprecedented. Kósa added that the Fidesz-KDNP parliamentary group protested vehemently.
hungarymatters.hu
