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European and Hungarian opposition stage anti-government demonstration in Brussels
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Dutch Green MEP Judith Sargentini, author of a report critical of the state of the rule of law in Hungary approved by the European Parliament last year, addressed a demonstration against the Hungarian government’s policies organised by the Hungarian opposition in Brussels on Tuesday.
In her speech at the protest organised by the Radical European Democrats (RED) movement, Sargentini stressed the importance of a free media and being critical of governments in a democracy.
She said it was dangerous to conflate a government or a political party with the state or its citizens, adding that this is what was happening in the case of debates on the situation in Hungary.
She also said it was important for trade unions, civil groups and opposition parties to come together.
As regards her report, Sargentini said it focused on a number of key topics about civil rights in Hungary and how the Hungarian government was undermining those rights. The MEP said all European citizens have equal rights.
Sargentini said she was expressing solidarity with Hungarians because they are “first class European citizens”.
The politician said the time for “quiet diplomacy” was over and it was time to act, lest the situation worsens.
Socialist Party MEP István Ujhelyi said being Hungarian was equally important to remaining European. “Let’s keep Hungary in Europe,” he said. “But we have to choose: Europe or Orbanistan.”