11
Jul
2023
Watch
2023 Annual Rule of law report (debate)
Madam President, dear colleagues, as we are discussing the results of yet another rule—of—law monitoring cycle, Viktor Orbán’s abusive regime has reached yet another milestone. Last Tuesday, they adopted the so-called revenge law, a piece of legislation that has absolutely zero place in the European Union. For a better part of a year now, teachers and students have been organising major demonstrations across Hungary because public education is at the brink of collapse. The regime sees their protest as a threat and this law is a tool to coerce them into silence with a police state apparatus. Teachers can get fired for striking – even though they don’t make a living wage – and from now on, they can also get fired for voicing any criticism. Five thousand of them have already indicated that they would leave their profession because of this law. Colleagues, the Commission has been reluctant to comment on this law because education is a Member State competence. But we are not talking about education policy here. This is a democratic minimum, this is a rule—of—law issue. EU institutions must view it as such, include in the rule—of—law monitoring and demand the Hungarian Government repeal this shameful law.