They call for the resignation of an Orbán commissioner for calling MEPs in Parliament “idiots”

The parliamentary groups of the European socialists and liberals (S&D and Renew) have requested this Wednesday the dismissal of the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, the Hungarian Oliver Varhelyiafter the microphones of the European Parliament captured him this Tuesday when, believing that he was not heard, he described it as “idiots” to the MEPs who were taking part in the session.

“How many idiots are left?”he said in Hungarian to his chief of staff, thinking that his words were not being heard after speaking in plenary session in response to questions raised by MEPs.

The commissioner has excused himself this Wednesday with a statement in which he regrets what he describes as “misunderstood“, since he affirms that a private conversation with a person from his team has been taken out of context.

The Socialist MEP Sándor Rónai described the commissioner’s words as “unprecedented brutal insult” since it is “unacceptable” that a senior leader of another European institution “violates the integrity of Parliament”, for which he has called on the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to take “forceful measures”.

Along the same lines, the liberal MEP Irene Joveva has branded the commissioner’s explanations as “cynical” after accusing the chamber of having misinterpreted his words instead of apologizing. “Honestly, there are very few people who believe him“He has stated, before making him ugly that he has referred in this way to the elected representatives of the Eurochamber, whose job it is to hold the Commission accountable.

“We are not surprised that Viktor Orbán’s appointee – the Hungarian Prime Minister – is against democratic processes, but this camera doesn’t work like that“, has added, on what in his opinion is a new example that Varhelyi “is not qualified to carry out this work”.

Thus, it has also urged Von der Leyen to carry out an investigation, “pending for a long time”, into the “numerous allegations” of misconduct of the Commissioner, in particular on his relations in the Balkan region. “The commissioners must act in the interest of Europe and, if their misconduct is proven, they must resign,” he concluded.

For his part, the spokesman for the European Commission, Eric Mamerhas acknowledged this Wednesday at a press conference that Brussels “has no plan to carry out an investigation” in this regard and has referred to the apology statement issued by the commissioner.