Hungarian Deputy Minister is fierce to Van der Plas

In a letter, which has not yet been made public, the Hungarian government is fiercely going to the Lower House. Subminister of EU Affairs Barna Pál Szigmond, member of Viktor Orbáns Party Fidesz, writes that the Permanent Chamber Committee is trying to « exert influence on the internal affairs of a sovereign country » and calls that « completely undemocratic and illegal ».

He responds to the letter That BBB party chairman Caroline van der Plas, chairman of the European Affairs Committee, had written to his minister on 24 March. In that letter, on behalf of the committee, she had expressed her « deepest concerns » about the Hungarian law that makes the Pride of 28 June in Budapest impossible, and « strictly convicted ». She asked the minister to withdraw the law and « to make sure that the rights of the LGBTQI community in Hungary are respected and protected. » The law makes ‘the right to freedom of meeting’ subordinate to ‘the protection of children’, which can prohibit events such as the Pride.

Interference

Deputy Minister Szigmond also mentions the tone in which Van der Plas had asked for the withdrawal of the law « controversial »: according to him it was as if they want to « advise the Hungarians how to live. » He also blames Van der Plas that she had not come to Budapest at the end of March with a working visit from the Chamber Committee. Because then he could have « observed » the situation firsthand.

Van der Plas was prevented at that time by work in The Hague and in her place, MP Thom van Campen of the VVD had led the working visit. On the day the committee arrived in Budapest, the House of Representatives had just adopted a motion to put Hungary under pressure by a large majority. If that country did not stop violating the rule of law, it was stated, the Cabinet Schoof in Brussels had to urge less European money for Hungary.

Szigmond also mentions the tone at which Van der Plas asked for the withdrawal of the law ‘controversial’

Van Campen later told in NRC That the motion had arrived hard and was seen as unacceptable interference. The MPs were received cool. The sub -minister who now says that Van der Plas should have come along, then had canceled his appointment with the MPs. In Budapest the MPs had had a conversation with LGBTQI+organizations, according to Van Campen they are « intimidated and humiliated » and mainly transmen people have a hard time.

Van Campen now says about the letter from Szigmond: « We have apparently hit a sensitive chord and that is very good. They have clearly registered that the House of Representatives does not settle for the way in which the rule of law is violated at many points in Hungary. Think of corruption and the protection of minorities. »

‘Craziness’

Van Campen calls it « bizarre » that Van der Plas, whom he calls « our chairman », is so personally addressed. In his letter, Szigmond calls her « inconsistent » because, according to him, he himself rather « trans, queer, intersexual and asexual » people on social media « crazyHad mentioned.

He seems to refer to a performance by Van der Plas in the Lower House, last summer, in which she had taken out sex education that, according to her, was ‘very explicit’ to ‘five or six-year-olds’. She called that « craziness. » She was also talking about ‘the entire letterbox’ that she said, she could not bring at home every letter. She received fierce criticism, which she herself reacted to again. She said that she was « not gay », according to her people wanted « whatever their orientation, and whoever they are, don’t like being a letter either. »

The letter from the Hungarian sub -minister will be discussed next Wednesday in a meeting of the European Affairs Chamber Committee. Van der Plas says that until that time she cannot respond to it in terms of content. She calls it « remarkable » that the letter is about her so personally. « As a committee, we have never experienced that before. »

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