President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen has called on EU Member States not to use the Coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to implement emergency measures that are not compatible with democracy and human rights.
It's of outmost importance that emergency measures are not at the expense of our fundamental principles and values. Democracy cannot work without free and independent media. Respect of freedom of expression and legal certainty are essential in these uncertain times.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 31, 2020
In a statement on Twitter she wrote:
“It’s of utmost importance that emergency measures are not at the expense of our fundamental principles and values. Democracy cannot work without free and independent media. Respect of freedom of expression and legal certainty are essential in these uncertain times.”
She added that the European Commission will be closely monitoring the application of emergency measures in all Member States.
.@EU_Commission will closely monitor, in a spirit of cooperation, the application of emergency measures in all Member States. We all need to work together to master this crisis. On this path, we'll uphold our European values & human rights. This is who we are & what we stand for.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 31, 2020
“We all need to work together to master this crisis. On this path, we’ll uphold our European values and human rights. This is who we are and what we stand for,” she wrote
While she did not mention Hungary specifically, it is widely believed that her statement was a reaction to the passing of a bill in Hungarian Parliament that gives Prime Minister Viktor Orban the power to rule by decree. The law not only gives him absolute power but the so called “emergency measures” have no end date and impose chilling penalties on speech, journalists and anyone found violating quarantine.
Hungary’s deteriorating democracy has been happening for over ten years. Orban and his centre-right Fidesz party have long been involved in a systematic dismantling of institutional checks and balances, seperations of powers, the rule of law, an independent judiciary, and media freedom.
Through a series of maneuvers, Orban has seized a significant amount of political power with the latest law, representing the final straw.
A number of MEPs reacted to the news by saying that the law and his position is incompatible with being an EU Member State.
