--- title: "Gozi and Verougstraete: Europe must act now to stop Orbán’s authoritarian model" date: 2026-03-20T02:54:39+01:00 author: Alessio de Giorgi canonical_url: "https://democrats.eu/de/aktuelles/gozi-and-verougstraete-europe-must-act-now-to-stop-orbans-authoritarian-model/" section: News --- Nachrichten # Gozi and Verougstraete: Europe must act now to stop Orbán’s authoritarian model ![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27400%27%20height%3D%27378%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)![](https://democrats.gumlet.io/images/Gozi-and-Verougstraete-on-Orban.jpeg?width=400&height=378&mode=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=50&fp-y=50)[Demokratie](https://democrats.eu/de/themen/a-democratic-europe/) **The Hungarian leader poses a threat to Europe.** ‘Following yesterday’s European Council, during which Viktor Orbán — backed by Robert Fico — once again held the European Union hostage by blocking crucial support for Ukraine, we are demanding a firmer and more credible European response to the persistent violations of the rule of law in Hungary.’ This morning, we are formally calling on the European Commission to review the Treaty — specifically, Article 7, which allows for the suspension of a Member State — in order to prevent institutional deadlocks and protect the rule of law,” announced MEPs **[Sandro Gozi](https://democrats.eu/de/sandro-gozi/)** und **[Yvan Verougstraete](https://democrats.eu/de/yvan-verougstraete/)**, representing the **[Europäische Demokratische Partei](https://democrats.eu/de/i-partei-demokratisches-europai/)**. ‘It is time to open the debate on governance. Those who continue to deny the institutional issue bear responsibility for Europe’s failure and paralysis with every passing day. Fourteen leaders are enough to set the process in motion. We call for courage to be shown, and for ‘realism’ to no longer be confused with a denial of the urgency of the situation,’ the two MEPs declared. The events that took place during this European Council make one thing clear: ‘The Orbán system is no longer just a Hungarian problem; it now poses a direct threat to the unity, credibility, and future of the European Union’. After sixteen years in power, [Viktor Orbán](https://democrats.eu/de/tag/viktor-orban/) has not only weakened the democratic checks and balances in his own country, he has also exploited the Union’s institutional weaknesses to put pressure on his partners, undermine support for Ukraine, and paralyse joint action at a critical geopolitical juncture. For European Democrats, ‘this is an unacceptable distortion of the Union’s rules and values’. **‘Europe must show unity’.** Yesterday’s European Council brutally demonstrated that Orbán has weaponised his system of power against Europe itself. While Ukraine is fighting for its survival, Orbán has chosen sabotage, blackmail and obstruction. This is neither patriotism nor sovereignty; it is the cynical exploitation of European rules for domestic political gain,” explains MEP Sandro Gozi. ‘The European Union cannot remain defenceless in the face of a leader who undermines the rule of law at home and European solidarity abroad. We need stronger instruments, tougher sanctions, and if necessary, a revision of the treaties.” **‘No longer tolerating the intolerable.’** ‘Viktor Orbán is a threat to Europe,’ says MEP Yvan Verougstraete. ‘What happened yesterday is politically and morally unacceptable. Orbán and Fico have shown that, in the face of war on our continent, they are prepared to weaken Europe and betray Ukraine for short-term political gain.’ ‘If a government can hijack the EU’s decision-making process while dismantling democracy at home, the entire European project is in danger. Europe must stop tolerating the intolerable.” **Defending the rule of law means protecting democracy.** In a joint statement, the two MEPs warn that Viktor Orbán’s illiberal model now extends beyond Hungary and is spreading to other states. Without a clear and determined response, these abuses pose a direct threat to the future of the Union. In their parliamentary question, they ask the Commission about the effectiveness of existing tools, notably Article 7, and call for stronger measures, including a possible revision of the treaties, to avoid paralysis setting in. With the Hungarian elections just a few weeks away, they also condemn the exploitation of the Ukrainian crisis for electoral gain, highlighting the Union’s vulnerability to internal deadlocks. ‘For the European Democratic Party, defending the rule of law means protecting democracy and Europe’s capacity to act in the face of those who weaken it from within,’ conclude the two leaders of the European Democratic Party. L’article [Gozi and Verougstraete: Europe must act now to stop Orbán’s authoritarian model](https://democrats.eu/de/gozi-and-verougstraete-europe-must-act-now-to-stop-orbans-authoritarian-model/) est apparu en premier sur [Website of the European Democrats](https://democrats.eu/de). ## Verwandte Kampagnen ![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27400%27%20height%3D%27300%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)![](https://democrats.gumlet.io/images/Members/Sandro-Gozi.png?width=400&height=300&mode=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=50&fp-y=50) [](https://www.instagram.com/sandrogozi)[](https://x.com/sandrogozi)[](https://www.facebook.com/sandrogoziufficiale/?locale=it_IT) [Sandro Gozi ](https://democrats.eu/de/mitglieder/sandro-gozi/)Generalsekretär Frankreich Mouvement Démocrate (MoDem) ![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27400%27%20height%3D%27300%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)![](https://democrats.gumlet.io/images/Members/Yvan-Verougstraete.png?width=400&height=300&mode=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=50&fp-y=50) [](https://x.com/YVerougstraete)[](https://www.instagram.com/yvanverougstraete/) [Yvan Verougstraete ](https://democrats.eu/de/mitglieder/yvan-verougstraete/)Stellvertretender Generalsekretär Belgien Les Engagés ## Verwandte Nachrichten ![People celebrate the victory of the Student List at parliamentary election after Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat, at Slavija Square in Belgrade, Serbia, October 26, 2026. 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