The European Parliament reacted this Wednesday with disbelief to the excuses presented by the enlargement commissioner, the Hungarian Olivér Várhelyi, after he was heard asking the day before “how many idiots” were left to speak in a debate held in Strasbourg.
Far from apologizing, Várhelyi, appointed by ultra-conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, issued a statement regretting the “misunderstanding” with his comment, which he claims was part of a conversation with his chief of staff on another topic and “has been taken out of context.” “I am sorry for any misunderstanding on this, I deeply respect the EU institutions, including the European Parliament and its honorable members.” Several MEPs have called for the resignation of the Hungarian politician, known for his aggressive nature and tense relations with the European Parliament.
The incident occurred during a debate on the enlargement policy in the Balkans in which several deputies asked him pointed questions about his tolerance towards the government of Serbia, a candidate country that is reluctant to align itself with the European sanctions against Russia for the war from Ukraine. In the video of the incident, it is seen how after an hour and a half of discussion, Várhelyi finishes answering a question and takes a seat. Just three seconds later, probably thinking his microphone was closed, he is heard saying in Hungarian: “How many idiots are left?”
“I was one of those idiots who asked Commissioner Várhelyi to sanction Dodik for his alignment with Putin,” tweeted the Dutch ecologist MEP Tineke Strik, who recalled that the European Parliament asked a year ago to investigate the action of the commissioner, whom He accused himself of not pressing enough to defend the rule of law in the candidate countries, and called for taking action.
Not only several MEPs from opposition parties in Hungary called for his resignation. Commission president Ursula von der Leyen “must kick him out immediately,” said Belgian liberal Guy Verhofstadt. “It’s good to see what the Orbán man thinks of democracy,” said Damian Boeselager of Germany. “Várhely must resign, I don’t want to see him in this chamber again,” he added.
