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Although Hungary missed out on the EU high commissioner post, the country’s government has made it clear that it will not give up the fight, with Prime Minister Viktor Orban once again Nomination Olivér Várhelyi is the EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, writes Irakli Machaidze.
Irakli Machaidze is a Georgian political writer, analytical journalist and European Young Voices researcher.
The move shows that Orban’s controversial plans remain unchanged. EU institutions must take action to stop this.
As the dust settles on the European elections, the real battle for the EU has just begun. Re-election Ursula von der Leyen is president of the European Commission for the next five years, but the top post in the EU executive remains vacant.
Member states must submit their nominations by August 30, followed by individual nominees hearings in the European Parliament. Expected He will take up his post in early November after parliament votes to approve the full commission.
The election of a new European Commissioner will affect the development of all sectors of the European Union. Each country has its own interests to pursue. The process of announcing the Commissioner candidates can reveal the priorities of the member states.
Von der Leyen has exclusive power to allocate policy posts and shape the executive hierarchy. Most member states have nominated candidates but did not consider the male-female pairing she has adopted. askIf a state re-nominates a commissioner, they can bypass this requirement. By re-nominating Olivier Vahli, Orban avoid There is no need to recommend a female candidate at this time. But his decision is more than that.
Over the past five years, Vahli has been frequently criticized for his feud with the council and for echoing the Orban government. His tenure has been marred by controversy, including: investigation The investigation launched by MEPs into possible breaches of the Commission’s code of conduct is a hot topic scandal He called MEPs “idiots” and Position Discuss issues such as the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Orban knows that the chances of the same country, let alone the same person, getting the same position on the commission again are slim. Nonetheless, he has nominated Vahli again, and Vahli’s appointment is contingent on a confirmation hearing in parliament. There, Vahli will face heavy criticism for departing from the commission’s official position and pushing Orban’s agenda. Given these challenges, the Hungarian prime minister appears to have different plans for his renominee.
Orbán’s nomination is bound to spark speculation that he has kept a real candidate as a Plan B, with Várhelyi’s candidacy expected to be rejected by parliament. Back in 2019, Hungary’s top choice, László Trócsányi, was reject The way was paved for Vahli due to an alleged conflict of interest. Will Orban really risk being rejected again, or is he using this opportunity to advance an ulterior agenda?
other name The line-up of MPs from Hungary includes Enikő Győri, an MEP who is one of Orbán’s most trusted EU experts and has served as ambassador to Italy and Spain.
However, the problem may not be specific names but power. Orban likes to dream big; his first priority is Safe Hungary faces competition for key positions like these. This may seem unrealistic. But moonshots and starshots are Orban’s specialty, and this may once again become part of his strategy.
It could also mean a desire to keep the neighborhood and enlargement policy portfolio in Hungary’s hands, which Orbán has used effectively over the past five years.
Back in 2019, the EU portfolio expansion was a powerful tool for expanding Hungary’s influence in the Balkans. Today, as the situation has changed, this role has become even more crucial.
The post will be crucial as Ukraine, Moldova and other countries prepare to join the European Union, and given Orban’s ability to navigate between friends and foes, it could be key to shaping the bloc’s future.
Some EU member states have expressed concerns about Várhelyi or any other Hungarian commissioner, especially in the context of Orbán’s try Blocked aid to Ukraine and threatened to delay accession talks.
At the same time, his push Georgia’s rapid EU accession is just one example of how Hungary’s handling of EU policy often serves its illiberal agenda. This pattern underscores why such a fragile neighborhood policy should not be entrusted to Budapest. Moreover, other member states Target Candidate for the position.
It stands to reason that the Commission’s expanded responsibilities would be its most desired. MEPs must be thoroughly critical in parliamentary hearings, as governments Unwilling Seeing Várhelyi or any other Hungarian continue to hold such an important role. They should put forward a candidate who is clearly superior to any Hungarian competitor.
The European Commission now has more power, especially since Orban’s Fidesz party is no longer part of the EPP but has formed an alliance with the far-right Europa Patriots. create They have put up a cordon around it, further demonstrating the need for a decisive shift. The European Commission and von der Leyen must ensure that he no longer has the leverage to exploit the neighborhood policy that he did in the past.
(Editing by Rajnish Singh)
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