MEPs call for taking away Hungary's EU voting rights16 Jul 2024 20:15
Over 60 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and European Parliament chief Roberta Metsola, calling on Hungary's voting rights to be stripped as a result of its Prime Minister Victor Orban's trips to Russia and China, Politico reported on Tuesday.
The outlet said it obtained the letter signed by 63 MEPs, who claimed Orban "has already caused significant damage by exploiting and abusing the role of the Council Presidency" less than a month after assuming it on July 1. The MEPs alleged that the Hungarian prime minister "intentionally misrepresented his empowerments" during his meeting switch Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. "This requires real actions, such as suspending Hungary's voting rights in the Council, since practice has shown that mere verbal condemnations of this situation have no effect," they added.
Earlier, Orban insisted he is "not negotiating on behalf of anyone" ahead of his trip to Moscow but noted "peace will not come by itself in the Russia-Ukraine war, someone has to make it."
Baha Breaking News (BBN) / NP