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Italian ministers summoned Hungary’s ambassador at the time over concern about Salis and conditions in prison.
Salis, who has previously argued her sentence was disproportionate, said of Hungary’s request, “The minimum conditions for a fair trial to take place in Hungary do not exist.”
“I hope that Parliament will choose to defend the rule of law and human rights without giving in to the arrogance of an ‘illiberal democracy’ in autocratic drift which, by the mouths of even its own rulers, has on several occasions already declared me guilty before the verdict,” she added.
‘You are not a martyr’
Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs justified Budapest’s request, posting on X, “Let me make it clear once again: you were not arrested for your ‘political opinions’, you were arrested and tried for armed aggression against innocent Hungarian citizens.”
“This whole charade is a joke, you are not a democrat and you are not a martyr. You are a common thug,” Kovacs said.
Additional MEPs from the Fidesz party had strong words for Salis, calling her a “disgrace” and a “coward” on social media.
Representatives from Left Green Alliance, who offered Salis candidacy in the European elections, reiterated their full solidarity with the activist.
Demonstrators hold up a banner with writing reading in Italian “Lets free Ilaria Salis”, in front of the Pantheon monument, in Rome, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. – / Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse
“We hope that the European Parliament will reject this request in the knowledge that the conditions for a fair and equitable trial do not exist in Hungary,” said Nicola Fratoianni and Angelo Bonelli.
The push to lift Salis’ immunity comes after she delivered a speech in front of Orbán in early October, criticising the country’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.
“It is a bit of a paradox to have a presidency led by someone whose goal is to dismantle the EU in the name of nationalism,’ the Italian MEP said.
Orbán hit back against Salis, telling the European Parliament she, “beat up peaceful people in the streets of Budapest with iron bars” to applause and whistles.
Hungary’s request is unlikely to have an immediate impact. The request must first be assessed by the parliament’s president before being passed to the Legal Affairs committee and finally voted on by the Assembly.
The process is expected to take at least several months.
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Publish date : 2024-10-22 10:32:00
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