For the first time since the regime change, opposition MPs banned from the Hungarian Parliament
In a historic move, the Hungarian National Assembly has banned Members of Parliament from attending parliamentary sessions for the first time since the country’s regime change. The House voted to uphold sanctions imposed by Speaker László Kövér against five MPs from the Momentum party and independent MP Ákos Hadházy.
Opposition MPs have been stripped of their voting rights in Hungary
The sanctions resulted from a protest at the end of March, during which the MPs demonstrated against a legislative amendment tightening assembly rights, including provisions allowing the banning of Pride events under the so-called “child protection” law.
During the protest, opposition MPs used smoke grenades inside the parliamentary chamber, but loudspeakers and flyers were also used to disrupt the parliamentary session, prompting the Speaker to respond with suspension from sessions and cuts to their salaries. Please read our report about that day here, along with the details and a video.
The National Assembly voted on each case individually and approved the following penalties:
- Ákos Hadházy: banned for 12 sitting days and stripped of six months’ salary – HUF 12 million (EUR 29,660)
- Dávid Bedő: banned for 12 sitting days and stripped of six months’ salary – HUF 24 million (EUR 59,320)
- Lajos Lőcsei: banned for 12 sitting days and stripped of six months’ salary – HUF 14.4 million (EUR 35,600)
- Ferenc Gelencsér: banned for 6 sitting days and stripped of four months’ salary – HUF 9.6 million (EUR 23,700)
- Éva Sebők: banned for 6 sitting days and stripped of four months’ salary – HUF 11.2 million (EUR 27,680)
- Endre Tóth: banned for 6 sitting days and stripped of four months’ salary – HUF 11.2 million (EUR 27,680)
The bans will take effect starting from the next parliamentary session on Tuesday, meaning that the sanctioned MPs are unlikely to return before the beginning of the autumn session, Index writes.
The two-thirds majority (Fidesz-KDNP) led by PM Orbán did not stop at the law, but also incorporated it into the constitution, which the president signed without criticism on the same day. In response to the bridge occupations of recent weeks, the Hungarian police and the Supreme Court have taken tougher action against opposition protesters:
Protest in Hungary interrupted: police quickly stop anti-Orbán government demonstration
Momentum reaction
TO HISTORICAL BANISHMENT, HISTORICAL RESISTANCE IS THE ANSWER!
We are living in historic times. Today, something happened that has never happened in the 35 years of Hungarian democracy: representatives elected by the Hungarian people were banned from parliament by the Fidesz majority.
But the road that led to this point is also historic, as the Fidesz two-thirds majority is taking away the main achievement of the 1989 regime change, the law on assembly. The representatives of Momentum protested against this historic crime with extraordinary means: smoke candles, leaflets, and horns.
At times like this, it is not time for reflection and calculations, but for action! They wanted to make a decision that would affect the everyday lives of Hungarian people, violating and curtailing our fundamental rights. We have said many times that this issue is NOT about Pride. This issue is about whether we will silently tolerate Viktor Orbán leading Hungary down the path of Putin, which will end in a poor, oppressed country and withdrawal from the EU. We did not tolerate it silently, but took action and have been doing so continuously for a month and a half, together with thousands of Hungarian patriots. We resist!
We resist Fidesz’s draconian laws, we resist the lies, we resist the propaganda, and we resist the bans. No amount of fines, no amount of police coercion, no parliamentary decision can silence us. And not only us, but also the angry but freedom-loving people with whom we have been fighting side by side for a month and a half on bridges, at the Parliament and in the public media.
They can ban us, but they cannot ban the truth! They should be afraid, because we have nothing left to fear! We have nowhere to retreat! We will not retreat from being banned! Long live Hungarian freedom! Let’s meet on 1 May at 3 PM at Kossuth Square and stand together against Putin’s path and for a European Hungary!
That is a great statement by the Momentum Party expressing everything I have tried to say in my comments for a long time. Hungarians exist at a very dangerous point now where they risk losing their freedom and their country to complete control by an autocracy which is aligned with Russia. Once an autocracy takes control it gets more difficult to remove it every year it stays in power. 2026 might be the last chance and my prediction is that if Fidesz stays in office through a fixed election Hungarians will soon find themselves outside of the EU.
Personification of the DISTILLATION of DEMOCRACY – the WRONGFUL path, what they the Orban led Fidesz Government have DELIVERED on Hungary, this into an “abyss” of a New Dark age, under a Dictatorship that is DISMISSIVE – in allowing, the PEOPLE of Hungary – Freedom and Liberty expressing there OPINIONS that in a DEMOCRACY – the “Core” of Democracy is Dialogue.
Solidarity – in our millions GROWS that will be added to by this “hideous” decision, the doings of the “Judas” of European Democracy, of the European Union, global countrys Governed under DEMOCRACY – Victor Orban and his Fidesz Government, that have SLAUGHTERED our country – Hungary.
The “zenith” of actions that will be IMPOSED on those that OPPOSE & Question – actions in the past and this DECISION and what will further be introduced SILENCING us – Hungarians in expressing, exercising our RIGHTS under DEMOCRACY to have a VOICE – will demonstrate – the GUILT of Orban and his Fidesz Government, there “toxic culture” – there “Heinous” conduct that is SHROUDED in Treason and Lies and the FABRICATION of Truth & Facts, there PRACTICE of Propaganda “filled” with FALSENESS and there FALLACIOUS arguments.
Solidarity that in the conduct of our GROWING opposition of our CHALLENGING – of our NEED to ensure for us individually, our families, our children, our careers and for the FUTURE of our country HUNGARY – to see the end, the DOWNFALL of this Orban led Fidesz Government – we conduct ourselves under a “non-violent resistance”.
We don’t wear GUILT as does Victor Orban and his Fidesz Government.
We Hungarians are in fact in MILLIONS the INNOCENT, that have had our lives, the quality of our lives, the removal of Respect and Trust throughout Europe and the Global World HUNGARY our proud and historic country – SMASHED by the Orban led Fidesz Government – TRANSGRESSORS.
We WILL not be SILENCED.
Just in case somebody still believed that Hungary is a free country….
Evidently, it is not. Not anymore.
So, you lose a vote, you act like a bratty toddler and make a giant mess that working-class people have to clean up after you, you get duly punished for it, and you have the temerity to claim that the country is a dictatorship.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No, little boys: A dictatorship is when you cancel elections because you don’t like the result or when you prosecute your political opponents on trumped-up charges. That would be France, Ireland, Romania, Poland, Germany, and Austria.
All you left wing liberals cry!!! Orbán, Putin and Trump will clean up all you crazy minded people.
The Daily News this thinks protesters tying up traffic- some fined – never onnce mention the tens of thousands who lives have been interrupted many times by these clowns – all the fines would not cover one of the many police put on duty to control to control the crazy. This while the UK- Germany- France- netherlands- Ireland have had many major demonstrations defending the future of europe . Many to stop the EU from putting troops on the ground in Ukraine.
Someone farting on Wizz Air gets more coverage here.