Orbán to EPP head Weber: “You look at us like twits”

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Friday sent a response to recent remarks by Manfred Weber, group leader of the European People’s Party, concerning the EU’s planned rule of law mechanism.

“The situation is clear, dear Manfred: You want to alter the current legal status in order to create a mechanism that you immediately turn against Hungary and Poland. In light of the statements by the European Commission, European Parliament and national governments, you can no longer deny this. Now, you want us, Hungarians to give our consent,” the prime minister said.

“Over the course of history, Germans have asked for many things from us, Hungarians. Yet, you are the first ones to consider us Panscher. That we are not,” Orbán said.

Orbán quoted Weber as saying on Thursday that the mechanism was designed to separate the issues of the rule of law from partisan disputes rather than aimed against Hungary or Poland, but said that “the truth is just the opposite” and added that it was reflected in the remarks of European politicians.

The prime minister mentioned, for example, Commissioner Vera Jourova, who had referred to him as “building a sick democracy”, Didier Reynders, who said that Hungary and Poland had “rule of law crises”, and Frans Timmermans, who said that a free press was “virtually non-existent” in Hungary.