In a stunning development, the Hungarian government has formally requested that the European Union strip parliamentary immunity from Italian MEP Ilaria Salis. The move comes after Salis, a former teacher, was detained for 16 months in Budapest following an alleged altercation with neo-Nazi demonstrators.
Salis, 39, was arrested in February 2023 while participating in a counter-protest against a neo-Nazi rally in the Hungarian capital. She was subsequently charged with three counts of attempted assault and membership in an extreme left-wing organization, accusations she vehemently denies. If convicted, Salis could face up to 11 years in prison.
A Harrowing Ordeal
During her detention, Salis endured deplorable conditions, as described in a letter to her lawyer. She recounted cells infested with rats and insects, being denied basic hygiene for days at a time, and not receiving urgent medical care when needed. The case sparked diplomatic tensions between Italy and Hungary, with many in Salis’s home country expressing outrage at her treatment.
It was a very tough period. I hope that the parliament chooses to defend the rule of law and human rights without yielding to the arrogance of an ‘illiberal democracy’ with autocratic tendencies.
– Ilaria Salis
A Controversial Request
Representatives of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party announced the request to revoke Salis’s immunity during a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The move has been met with skepticism and concern from many who see it as a politically motivated attack on a vocal critic of Hungary’s increasingly authoritarian government.
Salis herself has suggested that the timing of the request, coming just one day after she delivered a scathing critique of Orbán’s policies during a parliamentary speech, is no coincidence. In a note, she wrote:
What is at stake is not only my personal future, but also and above all, the future of what we want Europe to be.
– Ilaria Salis
A War of Words
Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács fired back at Salis’s statement, accusing her of “acting like… some sort of victim” and calling her claims “utterly disgusting.” Kovács insisted that Salis was arrested for “instances of armed assault on innocent Hungarian citizens” and not for her political views.
The heated exchange underscores the growing tensions between Hungary and the European Union, as Orbán’s government faces increasing criticism for its erosion of democratic norms and the rule of law. Many see the Salis case as a litmus test for the EU’s willingness to stand up to member states that flout its core values.
A Long Road Ahead
The request to strip Salis of her parliamentary immunity has been referred to the relevant committee for consideration. The process could take up to four months before a final vote is held in the European Parliament.
In the meantime, Salis remains free to carry out her duties as an MEP, having been released from house arrest in June 2024 after winning a seat in the EU parliament. Her election granted her immunity from the charges she faces in Hungary, a status now under threat.
As the case unfolds, it will be closely watched by those on all sides of the political spectrum. For supporters of Salis and critics of Hungary’s government, it represents a crucial battle for the soul of the European project. For Orbán and his allies, it is an opportunity to assert their sovereignty and resist what they see as outside interference in their domestic affairs.
Regardless of the outcome, the Salis case has already shone a harsh light on the state of democracy and the rule of law in Hungary, and the challenges facing the European Union as it grapples with the rise of illiberal tendencies within its ranks. As the continent’s leaders debate the best way forward, the fate of one Italian MEP may well come to symbolize the larger struggle for the future of Europe itself.
