Hungary accuses EP of "Soviet-style methods"

BUDAPEST Hungary has accused the European Parliament of resorting to Soviet-style methods by passing a resolution "deploring" its recent constitutional changes. The European Parliament told Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Wednesday he risked isolating Hungary in Europe unless he repealed the "anti-democratic" changes, Reuters reported. Hungary accuses EP of "Soviet-style methods" "Since the rule of Soviet empire, no other external power has dared to try to curb the sovereignty of Hungarians openly, choosing a legal form," Orban said. The Hungarian prime minister also stated that "some of the European Parliament's recommendations violated the EU treaty." European lawmakers say Orban, who has used his two-thirds majority to enact hundreds of laws since sweeping to power in 2010, has weakened democratic checks and balances in the former Soviet satellite by changing the constitution. Hungary's parliament, with support from Orban's party and far-right Jobbik, passed a resolution on Friday saying the European Parliament was going against European values. It demanded "respect and equal treatment" for Hungary. "We don't want to live in a European empire that has its center in Brussels and where they tell us what we should do on the peripheries," Orban told the public radio. (Beta/AP, file) Reuters Tanjug

Hungary accuses EP of "Soviet-style methods"

"Since the rule of Soviet empire, no other external power has dared to try to curb the sovereignty of Hungarians openly, choosing a legal form," Orban said.

The Hungarian prime minister also stated that "some of the European Parliament's recommendations violated the EU treaty."

European lawmakers say Orban, who has used his two-thirds majority to enact hundreds of laws since sweeping to power in 2010, has weakened democratic checks and balances in the former Soviet satellite by changing the constitution.

Hungary's parliament, with support from Orban's party and far-right Jobbik, passed a resolution on Friday saying the European Parliament was going against European values. It demanded "respect and equal treatment" for Hungary.

"We don't want to live in a European empire that has its center in Brussels and where they tell us what we should do on the peripheries," Orban told the public radio.