Nicolas Bay: This is a Stalinist showcase against Hungary

The European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (also known as LIBE) delegation arrived in Budapest on September 29th; Nicolas Bay, French MEP was among those who came. The politician, a member of the National Rally, has defended Hungary on multiple occasions. According to him, the European Parliament is charging Hungary with empty accusations which are merely part of a political campaign against our government.

2021.09.29. Budapest Nicolas Bay, LIBE Fotó: Kurucz Árpád Fotó: Arpad Kurucz

What is your opinion on the increasingly federalist approach and continually expanding powers?

Brussels has centralist ideas. This is the federalist perspective. It has never been more crucial to enforce democratic rights in Europe. Europe can no longer lecture the world about democracy. This is why things must be rebalanced – including the Commission and its tasks and competencies. The European Commission has thousands of functionaries who were not elected by anyone, and nobody even knows who they are. The powers of the Council must also be reformed and redistributed.

How should the European Union be reformed?

We must recognize that we have a common European civilization and history. At the same time, all countries must respect each other – and cooperation is essential. I must emphasize that the Hungarian government has the strongest mandate in Europe, none of the 27 Member States carry this amount of legitimacy. As Viktor Orbán emphasized, we must defend the external, Schengen borders against migration. After all, our current border defense is unacceptable. Our plan is to redefine Europe: we must reconceptualize what it means to protect our security and identity. European institutions should be more democratic and less technocratic. Currently, these institutions benefit us very little. This shows me that bureaucratic will is contrary to the will of the people and that is unsettling. 

To mention French domestic politics: the presidential elections will be in a few months. What do you think of the National Rally’s chances?

Every poll in the past months has shown that we have a chance to get in the second round. Marine Le Pen, leader of our party, is Emmanuel Macron’s number one opponent. And it is clear that the National Rally is also a major opponent. This is a very strong position. We have seven months left to defeat our opponents.

Nicolas Bay

Party: National Rally

European Parliamentary Identity and Democracy

He has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2014. He is a full member of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE) and an substitute member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Between 2014 and 2017 he was General Secretary for the National Front. He was also a municipal counsellor. He regularly and firmly advocates for the concept of a Europe of nations. He clearly defends Hungary in regard to rule of law accusations. This was also the case when the majority of the European Parliament was calling Hungary a dictatorship in connection with the pandemic emergency measures. Bay then announced that Hungary is being attacked because they will not accept the EU’s migration politics. He similarly defended Hungary in debates about media independence and rule of law. He takes an unusually strong position against Muslim immigration in Western media.

Photo: Arpad Kurucz