EU lawmakers challenge Hungary vote and warn of possible Russian meddling
The EU doubts the fairness of Hungary’s elections (Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman)
Five European Parliament lawmakers monitoring rule-of-law
issues in Hungary warned that the country’s parliamentary elections may not be
held in a fair electoral environment and urged the European Commission to take
“concrete steps,” Euronews
reported on April 9.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der
Leyen and Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath, the lawmakers said they had
“serious doubts” that Hungary’s parliamentary elections “can take place in a
fair electoral environment.”
They called on the Commission to assess whether abuse of
state resources, foreign interference and intimidation of journalists in
Hungary could prevent a free vote, Euronews reported.
The lawmakers also pointed to a “possible Russian operation
to interfere in Hungary’s internal affairs,” which they believe amounts to
covert support for the ruling Fidesz party’s election campaign.
On April 8, The Insider published an investigation alleging
that several propagandists and intelligence officers working under diplomatic
cover at the Russian Embassy in Budapest were taking part in the election
campaign.
In March, The Washington Post reported that Russian
intelligence had planned to stage an assassination attempt on Hungary’s prime
minister to improve his chances of winning the parliamentary election and
preserve Moscow’s influence in the country.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the report
“disinformation.”
Hungary is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on
April 12.
On April 1, Reuters, citing two opinion polls, reported that
the opposition Tisza party had the support of 56% of decided voters, up 3 percentage
points from early March. Support for the ruling Fidesz party stood at 37%, down
2 points from three weeks earlier. Another 26% of voters were undecided.
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