On Wednesday 23 October, Italian MEP Ilaria Salis (The Left) denounced Hungary’s request on Thursday 10 October to waive her parliamentary immunity. This request has been forwarded to the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs.
“It is certainly not insignificant that the request to waive my immunity was sent on 10 October, the day after the plenary session during which, along with many other colleagues, I severely criticised the Hungarian Presidency”, said Ms Salis at a press conference in Strasbourg.
The election of Ms Salis to the European Parliament last June enabled the anti-fascist activist, accused of physically assaulting far-right militants during a demonstration in Budapest in February 2023, to be released from house arrest after 15 months in prison. However, she still faces a prison sentence of up to 24 years.
“I hope that the Parliament will not give in to the tyranny of an authoritarian government. [...] The aim of all this is clearly to prevent me from carrying out the work for which I was elected by 178,000 Italian and European citizens”, pleaded the MEP.
In early 2024, the former teacher appeared handcuffed and chained, with her feet shackled, at a judicial hearing in Hungary, sparking a wave of indignation in Italy.
According to Ms Salis, the conditions for a fair trial have not been met. The MEP also pointed out that Hungary had been repeatedly called to order and penalised by the EU for rule-of-law violations. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)