Fidesz: Scientology church’s request to Socialist member of parliament ‘astonishing’

It is “astonishing” that Church of Scientology has turned to the Socialist lawmaker who heads parliament’s national security committee, asking him to intercede on its behalf in connection with official procedures against the organisation, a ruling party lawmaker said on Thursday.

The data protection authority recently fined the Scientology organisation 40 million forints (EUR 130,000) for abuse of personal data. Subsequently, the authorities carried out another search of the premises.

Szilárd Németh, Fidesz’s deputy group leader, accused Zsolt Molnár, the Socialist MP in question, of failing to refuse the request.

The organisation asked Molnár to “review the procedure” against it and make sure the authorities “exercise impartiality”,

the Fidesz politician told a press briefing on Thursday.

Németh said it was “surprising” that opposition politicians, including Molnár, had stood up for the church in the past.

The committee cannot take over the role of an investigating authority, he said.