Rudolph Angler Hungary’s ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition has introduced a controversial draft law that could strip Hungarian Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) of their mandates. The legislation, which was presented on Friday, aims to tighten financial transparency rules for all Hungarian MEPs. If they fail to comply with these rules, the National Electoral Office (NEO) could revoke their mandates, a move that critics claim is politically motivated.
Proposed Legislation and Its Potential Impact
The draft law would require Hungarian MEPs to adhere to stricter financial transparency regulations. If an MEP is found to be in violation of these rules, the NEO would have the authority to inform the European Parliament’s president about the termination of the MEP’s mandate. While the government has framed the law as a transparency measure, opponents argue that it is a targeted effort to undermine opposition leader Péter Magyar, the founder of the Tisza Party.
Magyar’s Response: A Political Move
Magyar, whose political influence has grown ahead of Hungary’s 2025 general elections, wasted no time in responding to the proposal. On Facebook, he accused Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the ruling party of crafting the law specifically to remove him from the political stage. In his post, Magyar mocked the government’s efforts, saying, “You’ve told your jesters to find a miracle weapon to remove me.”
A recent poll conducted by Median in March showed Magyar’s Tisza Party ahead of Fidesz by 9%, adding a sense of urgency to the ongoing political rivalry. Political analyst Szabolcs Dull noted that the law’s timing and specific focus on MEPs suggest it was designed to target Magyar directly. He pointed out that the law applies only to MEPs and not national lawmakers, which he argued is a selective measure. Dull also highlighted an ongoing insider trading investigation involving Magyar, noting that it further fuels the perception that the law is aimed at discrediting him.
Legal Experts Warn of EU Conflict
In February, Hungarian prosecutors began investigating Magyar for a 2013 stock trade involving Opus, a company linked to billionaire Lőrinc Mészáros. Reports suggested that Magyar profited from a buyback announcement, artificially inflating the company’s share prices. However, Magyar has vehemently denied the accusations, stating that he lost money on the trades and has banking data to disprove the timeline of events.
Despite the political storm, legal experts have raised concerns about the law’s potential conflict with European Union regulations. EU legal scholar Tamás Lattmann explained that under EU law, national authorities, such as Hungary’s NEO, do not have the legal power to revoke MEP mandates. Even if Hungary’s NEO moves forward with such an action, Lattmann said the European Parliament could legally ignore the decision. Any affected MEP could challenge the revocation in court, potentially bringing the case before Hungary’s Curia or the European Court of Justice.
A spokesperson for the European Parliament declined to comment on the proposal, as it is still in the draft stage.
Magyar’s Challenge to Orbán
In response to the draft law, Magyar made another provocative post on Facebook, vowing to publish his full financial disclosures. He challenged Prime Minister Orbán to do the same, writing, “I’ll publish mine and my relatives’. You follow me. Let’s pull our pants down together, Prime Minister. Deal?”
Magyar also accused Orbán of owning a private zoo with zebras and spending €75,000 on landscaping at his estate. These claims were quickly dismissed by a government spokesperson, who labeled them as “beneath humour.”
As the political showdown between Magyar and Orbán intensifies, the proposed law has sparked debates about its true intentions, the balance of power, and the future of Hungary’s political landscape.