Fidesz MEP protests against ‘EU right to censor member state election campaigns’

The EP is voting on a proposal on the transparency of political activities on Thursday. The proposal aims to facilitate obtaining information on campaign sponsors and the payments made, among others. The proposal would also review regulations on the periods immediately before elections and referendums.

Tamas Deutsch said that while “almost all EU institutions are mired in corruption … bureaucrats are trying to force legislation that would make it impossible to talk about corruption in Brussels at all.”

The proposal would enable EU institutions to censor the topics of all election campaigns in all member states, he warned. Defining the participants, topics and tone of election campaigns is in the hands of member states, and EU interference is “unacceptable”, he said.

The Fidesz delegation will vote against the proposal, as it “curbs freedom rights and democracy”, he said.