Ilaria Salis (The Left). – Madam President, dear colleagues, I know
Hungary from its darkest place: from prison. I was held in pre-trial
detention in harsh conditions for 15 months. Thanks to the solidarity of
thousands of anti-fascist citizens, I stand in front of you today as a
free woman. The Presidency of this Hungarian Government is highly
inappropriate. A united Europe was born on the ashes of the defeat of
Nazi fascism as a project of international cooperation. It’s a bitter
paradox to have a presidency led by someone whose goal is to dismantle
the EU in the name ofnationalism. Hungary under Viktor Orbán has become
an illiberal and oligarchic regime, an authoritarian ethnic state. Some
even call it modern tyranny. What is sure, is that now the rule of law
and media freedoms are not guaranteed. Dissent is criminalised, civil
society repressed. While loyal oligarchs have grown rich, social and
regional inequalities have become worse. The rights of minorities are
violated and racism has become mainstream. The EU is far from being
perfect – neoliberal policies, social inequalities, double standards in
foreign policy and subordination to US influence. But none of this
concerns Mr Orbán. His real targets are minorities, migrants, social
justice, freedom of expression and the rule of law. He fuels resentment
among the Hungarian people against the so-called ‘degenerate Europe’ to
create an external enemy and consolidate his own power. Mr Orbán has
strong ties with the worst far-right forces, both in Europe and
internationally. This new, dangerous form of fascism represents the
authoritarian variant of today’s global capitalism. They are fraudulent
enemies of the working class and of friendship among people, a threat to
those who aspire to live in freedom. Finally, I want to express my full
solidarity with Maja, the German anti-fascist and non-binary activist
who was extradited from Germany and now detained in Hungary. European
democracy must stand firm and refuse to cooperate with Mr Orbán’s
oppressive and authoritarian regime.

Video of the speech:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=srz2Ppntu_8

Further media reports:
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/10/22/hungary-asks-to-lift-immunity-for-mep-it-imprisoned-for-for-attacking-far-right-militants

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/25/italian-antifascist-mep-ilaria-salis-on-her-15-month-detention-in-hungary

https://left.eu/standing-united-the-left-supports-mep-ilaria-salis-in-the-fight-for-justice-and-democracy/