Because of billions of euros – the EU puts pressure and Orban makes concessions

Orbán has known for years that he is violating the EU’s values ​​and basic principles, criticized Timea Szabó of the opposition party Párbeszéd (Dialogue). In the 12 years of his rule, Orbán has done nothing but let his front men steal EU funds, the MP said.

Include in the nomination system
According to the motion tabled in Parliament, the EU corruption investigation body OLAF should be included in the nomination system for the members of the announced Hungarian anti-corruption institutions. These anti-corruption institutions include the integrity authority for controlling EU funds. Orbán should not fill the institutions with his own people, the opposition demands.

Given the bad economic situation in Hungary, Orbán is under pressure, the president of the Hungarian European Association, István Hegedüs, explains in the APA interview. With Hungary in desperate need of EU funds in the midst of the crisis, Orbán had to make concessions to the European Commission, which would also be seen as a defeat for him. But the head of government cleverly “sells” his own “ability to compromise” with his well-known rhetoric.

Get the necessary financing from somewhere else
“This ability to compromise is recognized by his supporters, so that Orbán once again emerges as the winner (out of the conflict, please note). Months ago he believed he would survive this situation without meeting EU requirements, said the president of the non-governmental organization Hegedüs described Orbán’s statement as a “bluff”, according to which he would know how to get the necessary funding elsewhere if EU funds were blocked.

“Of course you can raise money in the markets. Hardly from Russia, not even from China. And money from the IMF (International Monetary Fund, n.d.) – that can be expensive.” Hegedüs subsumes: “This bluff is part of the rhetoric of the self-proclaimed freedom fighter Orbán.” Pro-government political scientist Zoltán Kiszelly denied Orbán’s belated battle for the billions euros, director of the Budapest Center for Political Analysis of the Századvég Foundation told APA There is certainly no question of delayed action, as the letter from the commission only arrived at the end of August.

„It’s like a ping pong game”
Negotiations with Brussels followed and bills were submitted, the political scientist emphasized. “It’s like a ping-pong game. The Commission replied, then Hungary again. The government has until November 19 to take concrete steps to establish new anti-corruption institutions.” Kiszelly did not describe the Hungarian government’s concession to the EU’s demands as a defeat, as the Hungarian opposition had expected Hungary to join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, which Hungary did not want because of “preserving its sovereignty”. been a knee jerk,” Kiszelly emphasized.

Political observers had described the exchange of blows between Hungary and the EU as a cat-and-mouse game. Violation proceedings and lawsuits against Hungary before the European Court of Justice have so far failed to change Orbán’s government. That only changed with the threat of losing billions of euros. It will not come to that, Hungarian chief negotiator Tibor Navracsics said at a press conference in Budapest.

Hungary will deliver on commitments
The EU funds minister and former EU education commissioner assured that Hungary would deliver on its commitments. He believes that it is possible for the Commission to declare that Hungary has fulfilled its obligations before the deadline of 19 November, thus closing the procedure.

In the case of Hungary, it is the first time that Brussels has blocked funds due to deficiencies in the rule of law of a Member State. It now depends on EU states whether they follow the EU Commission’s proposal to block EU funds. 15 countries must agree.

A big problem for the country
The alarm bells may have recently started ringing for Sándor Csányi, CEO of the largest Hungarian bank OTP and the second richest man in Hungary. Csányi recently emphasized the great need to receive EU funds. If there is no agreement between Hungary and the EU before the end of the year, it would pose a major problem for the country, warned the banker, who is worth $1.3 billion according to the US trade magazine “Forbes”.