Hungary taken to court by EU

February 2, 2012
Marta Riksa and Daniel Pinfold

The European Commission has started legal proceedings against the Hungarian government over sweeping changes made to its constitution, which it claims violates EU law. Punishments may go as far as taking Hungary to the European Court of Justice, imposing fines and stripping the country of some of its voting rights.

The Hungarian centre-right party Fidesz introduced a new constitution that came into effect on 1st January. Changes include increased government control of the Central Bank, the data protection agency, the judiciary and the media.

The government’s moves have provoked hostility from the international community, which fears the new laws threaten the independence of some of the country’s major institutions. EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso said:“We do not want a shadow of doubt on respect for democratic principles and values to remain over the country any longer”. It has been made clear that the heavily indebted nation will not receive financial support from the IMF and EU unless Central Bank independence is restored. Meanwhile credit-rating agencies have added to the pressure by downgrading Hungarian debt to junk status. Amnesty International has raised issues regarding the sections of the new constitution that ban gay marriage along with the removal of other LGBT protections.

The conservative party came to power in 2010 securing a two thirds majority in Parliament. Since then it has used its mandate to push for radical changes in the country’s legal structure.

Relations with the EU were already strained since the beginning of last year when a controversial media law was implemented, which the government was forced to scale back. Hungary’s economic outlook is precarious with debt levels reaching 82% of GDP.

Protests have increased in the last month; early January saw tens of thousands of anti-government protesters taking to the streets in opposition to what has been seen as a slide towards authoritarianism. In response there has been a demonstration supporting the government against the perceived bullying of the EU and the IMF.

The government has defended its actions by claiming it is sorting out an economic mess left by the previous government.
Government representatives also say its actions are supported by the public, that they have consulted with European agencies and that the new constitution is finally fully replacing the previous communist constitution.

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