Major blow to Orbán: Navracsics not suitable for culture and education post, according to MEPs

Members of the European Pariament have determined that Tibor Navracsics, Hungary’s previous foreign affairs minister and earlier the country’s justice minister, is not fit to serve as the European Union’s commissioner for culture and education. Mr. Navracsics was the first candidate to be rejected during the current round of hearings. BBC News noted that this was a major slap in the face for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government, which — as the BBC indicates– has been “criticised in the EU for allegedly undermining civil liberties.” The HFP would suggest that it is safe to drop the term “allegedly” from this sentence.

The European Parliament was quite split, with 14 to 12 voting against Mr. Navracsics’s appointment. It should be noted that they did not find the former minister, as such, personally unsuitable to serve in the European Commission, but he was not an appropriate fit for a position which is seen as key in promoting European liberal demcratic values and pluralism. Mr. Navracsics did all he could to distance himself from Mr. Orbán’s government (of which he was a prominent member for over four years) and went as far as to critique the country’s controversial handling of media laws and the government’s “perceived” lack of respect for pluralism.

Tibor Navracsics

Tibor Navracsics

Mr. Navracsics’s rejection was undoubtedly a disappointment to the candidate, who had nothing to say about this set-back on Twitter. Previously, Mr. Navracsics had tweeted about a range of issues, where he aimed to portray himself as a liberally-minded supporter of dialogue and multiculturalism. “Today is the European Day of Jewish Culture. Let’s appreciate & celebrate the richness of our coexistence & our common heritage,” tweeted Mr. Navracsics on September 13th. “Twenty-five years ago HU & Israel re-established diplomatic relations. Since then we’ve formed a rich and friendly relationship,” Mr. Navracsics added on September 18th.

After his initial grilling, Mr. Navracsics did what he could to distance himself from Mr. Orbán.

“Media freedom and media pluralism are of key importance for a democratic society. I regret that sometimes in the past, not enough importance has been given to this important aspect by the Hungarian government, to which I no longer belong,” observed Mr. Navracsics. “I also learned that it would have been wise to engage in these discussions and consultations earlier, and in a more sensitive manner as regards the importance of fundamental rights and the rule of law across the European Union,” he added.

In the end, however, this “honest” reflection must have been seen as too little, too late by liberal, green and socialist MEPs.

Tamás Deutsch, one of Fidesz’s notoriously motty-mouthed MEPs, blamed Hungarian left-wing MEPs Benedek Jávor, Tibor Szanyi and Csaba Molnár for spreading incorrect information on how Mr. Navracsics had been rejected for the culture/education post, noting that it is “bullshit” to claim this, as the European Commission’s president has the right to decide who will receive which portfolio. As such, it is possible that Mr. Navracsics will be handed down a heavily diluted portfolio having something to do with cultural issues. The left’s rejection of Mr. Navracsics is more of a recommendation to Mr. Juncker, rather than a binding decision, Mr. Deutsch points out. “Their rejection is merely a way of saving face on the left, especially considering that despite all accusations, the ‘fascist’ Hungarian candidate had already been voted in earlier,” added the Fidesz MEP.

The European Union is perhaps seeing through Mr. Orbán’s smoke screen. Mr. Navracsics tried all he could to pretend that he was somehow an innocent bystander during the four years he spent serving in Mr Orbán’s government. But this did not go over well in Brussels.

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