During a plenary session of the European Parliament, in the course of a debate titled “There is a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the Union is founded,” Jacek Ozdoba, a Law and Justice MEP, strongly criticized the actions of some MEPs toward the democratically elected government of Hungary.
Ozdoba emphasized that Viktor Orbán’s successive election victories—from 1998 through the most recent election in 2022—are clear proof that it is the Hungarian people who consistently entrust him with the mandate to govern. “Democracy has spoken. It is the Hungarians who choose, not you,” he noted, asking whether the critics would like to make decisions on behalf of Hungarian society.
The MEP accused some political forces in the European Parliament of hypocrisy, recalling that in the past, funding for Poland had been blocked for political reasons. He also referred to the lack of reaction to the actions of Polish government representatives regarding the Constitutional Tribunal.
In his speech, Ozdoba also highlighted the inconsistent approach of MEPs to the issue of pro-Russian ties. He recalled that when he called for sanctions against Gerhard Schröder, representatives of the left and the EPP protested.
“You have the audacity to lecture Hungary simply because Orbán opposes illegal migration and a foreign ideology? That’s where he’s winning—and that’s what hurts you,” said Ozdoba, emphasizing that it is Hungarian citizens, not Brussels institutions, who have the right to decide the political direction of their country.
According to the PiS MEP, sovereignty and respect for the democratic decisions of nations remain the most important values: “Orbán is independent and makes decisions based on democracy. It is the Hungarians who will decide, not you.”
