EU lawmakers declare that Hungary is no longer a democracy

By LORNE COOK
Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union lawmakers have declared that Hungary has become “a hybrid regime of electoral autocracy” under the leadership of its nationalist government. The lawmakers say Hungary is undermining the bloc’s democratic values and it was no longer in the community of democracies. The parliamentarians raised concerns Thursday in a resolution about Hungary’s electoral system, judicial independence, possible corruption, public procurement irregularities, LGBTQ+ rights and other freedoms. The resolution passed in a 433-123 vote with 28 abstentions. The lawmakers condemned “the deliberate and systematic efforts of the Hungarian government to undermine the founding values of the Union.” The vote is highly symbolic but doesn’t impose any penalty on Hungary.