Now that Fidesz has won the elections, the EU is preparing sanctions

Just as after the 2018 Hungarian elections, Fidesz victory triggers new sanctions procedures in Brussels

Now that Fidesz has won the elections, the EU is preparing sanctions Fotó: Famille Bault

As you know, this triggers a procedure that has specific timelines, so a process is going on now. ”

In practice, the procedure that was launched two days after the 3 April parliamentary elections is expected to last another six to eight months before concrete sanctions can be imposed on Budapest, and Viktor Orbán’s government still has the opportunity to implement corrective measures in response to Brussels’ criticisms. It should also be remembered that

any suspension of European payments for Hungary must, if necessary and at the express request of the Commission, be approved by at least 15 Member States (out of 27), representing at least 65% of the EU’s population.

Meanwhile, the Next Generation EU recovery funds for Hungary (and also for Poland) remain withheld by the Commission.