The Venice Commission has postponed its visit to Budapest because the Hungarian government refuses to receive the organization’s delegation. PM Magyar’s behavior could become a source of embarrassment for the EU leadership, especially for EPP head Manfred Weber, as the new Prime Minister has been hailed as one on a mission to restore the rule-of-law in Hungary and put the country on track to stronger EU integration. The Venice Commission (officially the European Commission for Democracy through Law), although not an EU body, is an important advisory body of the Council of Europe.
The Commission was expected to meet both President Sulyok and the prime minister in order to establish the details concerning the looming constitutional crisis created by Magyar’s insistence on removing the head of state from his office. On Tuesday, Zsolt Németh, former President of the Foreign Affairs Committee, reported on his social media page that he had asked the Secretary General of the Venice Commission a question regarding the visit to Budapest. He wrote that –
“The Hungarian government refuses to receive the Venice Commission, which is why it has postponed its visit to Budapest. At a meeting of the Council of Europe’s “New Democracy Pact” committee, I addressed a question to Alain Berset, the organization’s Secretary General. In his response, he stated that the Venice Commission plays a crucial role in resolving constitutional crises.
The Hungarian government cannot hide! It must come clean! It must put an end to its unlawful rampage! Its disregard for the Venice Commission is unacceptable”,
wrote Zsolt Németh on Facebook.
After Péter Magyar made it clear that he is willing to change the Hungarian constitution only to remove the head of state from his office, President Tamás Sulyok turned to the Commission. He later announced that the Venice Commission would examine the government’s plans to amend the Fundamental Law under an expedited procedure. Magyar has not explained fully on what basis he demands the resignation of the President, but based on the private discussion between the two, President Sulyok described the reasons presented to him by the PM as purely “political”.
President Sulyok (L) congratulates Magyar after the new PM has taken his oath on May 9. Photo: MTI/Purger Tamás
Magyar’s aggressive campaign against Tamás Sulyok is widely interpreted though as part of his campaign to concentrate power in his own hands and destroy the political and social legacy of the previous Orbán government, alongside with the reputation of all those who have served the nation during this period.
Featured Image: X Venice Commission
