Brussels, 18/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - In an opinion contradicting the recent, rather positive views of the European Commission, the Council of Europe's Venice Commission, which examines democratic standards in its member states, said on Friday 14 June that there were serious problems still in Hungary with regard to the rule of law. The Venice Commission says that the Hungarian constitution should not be seen as a political tool. The committee of the wise, which was asked after a vote in March by the parliament in Budapest on a number of amendments to the constitution, highlighted persistent problems with the powers granted to the president of the judicial office, who was initially given the power to transfer cases from one court to another. The Venice Commission says that the new constitution jeopardises the constitutional checks and balances and, overall, the measures amount to a threat to constitutional justice and the primacy of principles laid down in the Fundamental Hungarian Law.
In no uncertain terms, the Venice Commission says that the fourth review of the constitution is the result of the government majority viewing the constitution as a political tool and is a sign of the abolition of the essential difference between the decision-making process under the constitution and normal politics.
On Friday 14 June, the European Commission hinted that the areas of dispute with Budapest over three aspects of the new constitution might not be subject to formal proceedings because the Hungarian government had pledged to find a solution, explained a Commission spokesperson.
On Wednesday, the European Parliament's civil liberties committee will give its opinion on Hungary when it adopts a report by Rui Tavares (Greens/EFA, Portugal) on fundamental rights and practices in Hungary. The report talks about an “erosion” of democracy and Hungary falling down the democratic league table. These claims are challenged by the Hungarian government, which described Tavares' report as reaching “false conclusions” about the situation. (SP/transl.fl)