Radio Free Europe

RFE/RL journalists report the news in 22 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established, including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia.

More news

Hungary's Ruling Party Reacts Angrily To European Parliament Ruling Country Not A 'Full Democracy'.

Since sweeping to power on his nationalist agenda in 2010, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has rewritten the constitution and key aspects of electoral laws. (file photo)

Since sweeping to power on his nationalist agenda in 2010, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has rewritten the constitution and key aspects of electoral laws. (file photo)

Fidesz, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling party, has blasted the European Parliament (EP) after it approved a resolution saying Hungary was no longer a "full democracy."

The EP voted 433 to 123 with 28 abstentions on September 15 to approve a report that said Hungary had become "a hybrid regime of electoral autocracy" under the leadership of Orban's nationalist government and that its undermining of the bloc's democratic values had taken the country out of the community of democracies.

The nonbinding vote is mainly symbolic as it singles out Hungary for allegedly failing to uphold values enshrined in the EU treaty such as "respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities."

The report says democracy and fundamental rights in Hungary have eroded through the "deliberate and systematic efforts of the Hungarian government" since the EP launched an investigation into Hungary's democratic norms in 2018.

"It is unforgivable that, while people are suffering from the severe economic effects of wartime inflation and misguided sanctions, the European Parliament is attacking Hungary again," said Balazs Hidveghi, a Fidesz deputy in the EP.

Orban, who was reelected for a fourth consecutive term in April, has clashed often with the bloc over issues such as judicial independence, public procurement, LGBT rights, and media, academic, and religious freedoms.

Since sweeping to power on his nationalist agenda in 2010, Orban, who characterizes the country as an "illiberal democracy," has rewritten the constitution and key aspects of electoral laws and consolidated allies' control of nearly every major media outlet in the country.

The EP report actually blames the European Union's other 26 members for being "inactive" to Orban's democratic abuses during his rule, saying part of the problem was "the inability of the [European] Council to make meaningful progress to counter democratic backsliding."

The report comes just days ahead of an expected announcement by the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, that the bloc is ready to suspend the transfer of some EU funds to Hungary over the alleged democratic violations.

With reporting by AP and Reuters

Press Preview: Wednesday's papers

Press Preview: Wednesday's papers

We take a look at what’s making Monday’s front pages with journalist and broadcaster Jenny Kleeman, and PR consultant Alex Deane. #presspreview SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more videos: Follow us on Twitter: Like us on Facebook: Follow us ...

Sky News -

Crocus City Hall attack casts further shadow on Tajik citizens in Russia.

Crocus City Hall attack casts further shadow on Tajik citizens in Russia.

The Chief of Russia's security service has claimed the UK, the U.S. and Ukraine could all have had a role in the Moscow concert hall attack, but no evidence was provided. At least 139 people were killed when the so-called IS-K targeted the Crocus ...

Sky News -

Protesting Farmers Spray Brussels Police With Liquid Manure - VOA News.

Protesting Farmers Spray Brussels Police With Liquid Manure - VOA News.

Belgian farmers sprayed manure toward police Tuesday in a protest ahead of a meeting of 27 EU agriculture ministers who were planning to discuss the crisis in the sector. The police ended the protests with a flurry of tear gas. The farmers were pr...

VOA News -

Threat of famine increases in Gaza - Israel-Hamas War.

Threat of famine increases in Gaza - Israel-Hamas War.

In Gaza there are increasing concerns about the threat of famine. On Monday, the RAF airdropped more than 10 metric tons of British food Aid, into Gaza, for the first time. Food insecurity has also increased in the occupied West Bank as a result o...

Sky News -

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ attorney responds to raids on properties in a statement.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ attorney responds to raids on properties in a statement.

An attorney for Sean “Diddy” Combs responds to the raids on the musician’s properties. CNN’s Josh Campbell reports, and attorney and legal affairs commentator Areva Martin weighs in. #CNN #News

CNN -

Coast Guard suspends Baltimore bridge collapse search and rescue efforts - full video.

Coast Guard suspends Baltimore bridge collapse search and rescue efforts - full video.

The U.S. Coast Guard is holding a news conference about the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge. A container ship struck one of the bridge's support columns early Tuesday, sending vehicles and people into the water. #news #breakingnew...

CBS News -