MEP Petition Looks To Suspend Hungary Voting Rights; Steep Path To Success

Finnish MEP Petri Sarvamaa has published a petition to be sent to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. The letter calls for the parliament to vote on a proposal calling for the Commission or member states to initiate Article 7(2) proceedings against Hungary under the Treaty on European Union. This is the first step towards invoking Article 7(3)TEU that would withdraw Hungary's voting rights at the European Council in response to alleged breaches of EU rule of law standards.

• Professor of EU Law at HEC Paris Business School Alberto Alemanno claims that the early departure of EUCO Pres Charles Michel, "is creating momentum to prompt the first-ever-vote on Article 7.2 TEU (existence of breach) that may lead to suspension of voting rights of Hungary." Questioned on the likelihood of the letter leading to the suspension of voting rights, Alemanno writes that is is, "...not impossible - it's the EPP leading the charge (for once) -- The consent of the EP can be inferred from previous resolutions."
• Stanley Pignal at The Economist outlines the case against the process resulting in the withdrawal of voting rights, "Article 7(1) is 9 member states. Article 7(2), which [the letter] refers to, requires 9 member states (or Comm) to propose AND THEN a unanimity of member states (minus the one in question, per Art 354)...It will end here. VDL, Michel & anyone who has spent time in Brussels know there is zero way a 26-vs-1 coalition can be built at EU level, even against Orban."