Slovak Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok has criticized the European Union for what he perceives as a double standard in its evaluation of the rule of law in Hungary. During an appearance on Slovak television, he pointed out that the EU has been relatively quiet regarding recent political changes in Hungary under Prime Minister Péter Magyar, despite having been more vocal on similar issues in the past.
Eštok specifically took issue with several recent changes in Hungary, such as the removal of the president, amendments to the constitution, restrictions placed on members of parliament, and reforms affecting the public broadcaster. He argued that if these measures had been enacted by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the EU would likely have issued stronger criticism and considered imposing sanctions.
The Slovak Interior Minister also questioned the European Commission’s lack of a substantial response, suggesting that the developments in Hungary have not undergone the same level of scrutiny from EU institutions as they might have previously. This stance was echoed by Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, who raised concerns that constitutional changes impacting the presidency were not in line with rule-of-law principles.
The comments by Eštok and Blanár contribute to an ongoing debate about how the EU manages democratic and legal developments within its member states, particularly focusing on Hungary. The issue highlights the tension between national sovereignty and adherence to EU standards, a subject of increasing importance in European politics.