Slovak Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok has criticized the European Union for what he sees as inconsistent standards when evaluating Hungary’s rule of law. During an appearance on Slovak television, Eštok expressed his belief that the EU has largely ignored recent political changes under Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar, despite previously taking a firmer stance on similar situations.
Among the changes in Hungary that Eštok highlighted were the dismissal of the country’s president, amendments to the constitution, new limitations imposed on members of parliament, and alterations to the public broadcasting system. He suggested that if these changes had been implemented by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the EU’s response would have likely been more critical, potentially involving sanctions.
Eštok also raised concerns about the European Commission’s handling of these developments, noting that the changes in Hungary have not been scrutinized with the same intensity by EU institutions. This sentiment echoes earlier concerns voiced by Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, who argued that constitutional alterations impacting the presidency contradict principles of the rule of law.
The comments from Eštok add fuel to the ongoing debate regarding the EU’s approach to democratic and legal changes in Hungary. Observers have been questioning whether the EU applies consistent standards across different member states when it comes to monitoring governance and legal reforms.