They want to make an example of us in order to send a message to everyone: whoever goes against the will of the global progressive network that encompasses the EU's institutional system, community law can be set aside.
According to András Schiffer, the former president of the LMP, not everything is right in the European Commission's reasoning regarding the withholding of EU funds: there are plenty of concerns about the Hungarian rule of law, but these public law problems partly fall within a range that simply does not fall under the competence of the EU.
"What the powers of the National Council of Judges are, whether such a body exists at all, the union could have nothing to do with that. Brussels was not dealt a hand in this area. As a Hungarian citizen, as a practicing lawyer, I may have problems with the justice system, I do, but the outside world has no say. By the way, in 2021, before the humiliating tug-of-war that is still taking place, the European Council adopted the rule of law mechanism decree with Viktor Orbán's vote. The decree states clearly: the procedure can be applied to problems that directly affect or threaten the Union's financial interests. "Whether or not an OBT mandate is renewable is obviously not in that category," Schiffer stated.
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"I came to the conclusion that the European Commission cannot be so stupid on its own," the lawyer stated, adding that the EU funds withheld now are not donations, we paid a heavy price for joining the EU.
"Already in the 1990s, that is, we demolished our customs borders too early, we sold out our production capacities, and we renounced and are renouncing development tools that would be essential to breaking out from the level of medium-developed countries," he added, then stated:
"Since last year, the game has been to bring all governments experimenting with sovereignist policies to their knees. This is about bleeding out".
According to Schiffer, this no longer only harms Viktor Orbán or the Fidesz party, but Hungary's fundamental interests. "Let's put it on record: Brussels is currently withholding EU funds due to us without a community legal basis, and with this the Commission is breaking up the union, or if you like, the rule of law in the EU. They want to make an example of us in order to send a message to everyone: whoever goes against the will of the global progressive network that encompasses the EU's institutional system, community law can be set aside. What is the mockery of the rule of law if not this! I would like to add that after the history of the 2020/22 closure and vaccine procurement, the EU should act with some modesty in matters of the rule of law. After the still unclear restriction of personal freedom, the relevant institutions and governments should at least make an inventory of how proportionate, necessary and legal the measures were. The board led by Von der Leyen is not willing to do this".
According to the former party chairman, if the funds do not arrive by a certain deadline, the payments should be suspended. "Furthermore, as a country that is catching up, we could boldly put the EU regulations on prohibited state subsidies in brackets, let MÁV Cargo be nationalized and cross-finance the otherwise struggling railway company, and amend the public procurement law in a way that favors local Hungarian entrepreneurs. If you do, so do we! If we do not receive these development resources in the near future, we will have to resort to development policy tools that we gave up early in exchange for EU subsidies".
"It's all about dissuading those experimenting with sovereignist politics in advance with our encouragement. See the Italian case, or previously the Greek case, but a change of government may come in Slovakia and Spain, and President Macron has also started talking about the strategic autonomy of the EU. So, it is far from the goal of Brussels to solve the rule of law problems in Poland or here, rather they want to drag out the procedure, bleeding the affected member states. Hungary is not interesting in itself. There is a global struggle going on between the globalist and - in some left-wing, in others right-wing - sovereignist tendencies".
Schiffer also evaluated left-wing parties. In his view, Momentum serves globalist interests and represents a colonial mentality, the MSZP as a party is dead, just like the entire opposition between 2010-14. “These are all zombie parties. Mi Hazánk is obviously sovereignist, but I would at least not confuse DK with Momentum on the globalist-sovereignist axis," concluded Schiffer in the interview with Mandiner.
