Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Viktor Orbán has spent the past nine years breaking down the rule of law and democracy in Hungary and whipping up fear. We know all too well his policies on gender, LGBT rights, refugee status, judicial independence and press freedom. The European People's Party last week decided to suspend the Fidesz party, which essentially means stripping the 12 MEPs concerned of voting and election rights internally within the European People's Party, but the only justification being given for the suspension is that the party is angry at how fellow Christian Democrats have been treated by Fidesz. The real issue here has to be the rights of Hungarian citizens. Mr. Orbán's interpretation of the suspension is a lot different from what I expect the Leader's to be. Mr. Orbán stated that to ensure unity - to protect unity - a resolution or compromise was adopted. The European People's Party could have expelled Fidesz but I presume it needed the numbers in the European Parliament. There has been a delay until after the European elections in May on the basis that the 12 MEPs are needed for jobs and positions of power. Everything I need to know is to be found in the language of the internal document of the European People's Party. It states that this is a joint decision. Has the Leader's party in the European Parliament called for Fidesz to be expelled. I repeat this has to be about Hungarian citizens rather than protecting one's own in the European Parliament.