Slovak Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok has criticized the European Union, accusing it of using double standards in its evaluation of Hungary’s adherence to the rule of law. During an appearance on Slovak television, Eštok claimed that the EU has largely ignored significant political changes in Hungary under Prime Minister Péter Magyar, despite having been more vocal and stringent in the past on similar issues.
Eštok highlighted several contentious changes in Hungary, such as the removal of the country’s president, constitutional amendments, restrictions on parliament members, and reforms targeting the public broadcaster. He argued that if these measures had been implemented by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the EU’s response would have likely been more critical, possibly leading to sanctions.
The Slovak minister also questioned the European Commission’s subdued reaction to these developments, suggesting a lack of thorough scrutiny from EU institutions regarding Hungary’s recent political actions. Eštok’s comments echo earlier concerns raised by Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, who also criticized the constitutional changes affecting the presidency as being inconsistent with principles of the rule of law.
These remarks contribute to an ongoing debate about the EU’s approach to monitoring and responding to democratic and legal changes within member states, particularly in Hungary. The situation raises questions about the consistency and fairness of the EU’s policies when dealing with rule-of-law issues across different countries.