Slovak Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok has openly criticized the European Union for what he perceives as a double standard in its approach to assessing the rule of law in Hungary. During a television broadcast in Slovakia, Eštok voiced his concerns over the EU’s muted reaction to recent political changes under Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar. He contrasted this with the EU’s historically more stringent position on similar issues.
Eštok pointed to several controversial changes in Hungary, including the ousting of the president, amendments to the constitution, limitations imposed on parliament members, and reforms affecting the national public broadcaster. He suggested that if these actions had been taken under the tenure of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the EU would likely have issued harsher criticisms and considered imposing sanctions.
The Slovak Interior Minister also questioned the level of scrutiny applied by the European Commission in response to these developments in Hungary. His remarks come amidst a backdrop of concern from other Slovak officials, including Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, who has previously noted that constitutional changes impacting the presidency fail to align with established rule-of-law principles.
These statements contribute to an ongoing debate about how the EU addresses democratic and legal changes within its member states, particularly in Hungary. The criticisms highlight a perceived inconsistency in the EU’s response to political developments, which continues to stir political discourse across the region.