Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is preparing his supporters for a potential loss in a key vote among MEPs Wednesday regarding the rule of law in his country.
“Pro-migration representatives have a majority in the European Parliament,” the prime minister said in a Facebook video posted on Tuesday morning. “The truth is that the verdict has already been written,” he said.
Orbán will be speaking at the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg Tuesday afternoon during a debate on a resolution calling a sanction process contained in the European treaties to be triggered by the Council of the EU. The so-called Article 7 procedure could eventually result in Hungary losing its voting rights over systemic violations of the rule of law, although that would require a unanimous vote among the other 27 EU countries. The Parliament’s resolution has divided the center-right European People’s Party, of which Orbán’s Fidesz is a member.
“I am now going to Brussels to defend Hungary and the Hungarian people against unfair accusations and lies,” Orbán said in the video, although he will be speaking in Strasbourg.
“Brussels” has become slogan for the prime minister, who in the past has run a billboard campaign called “Stop Brussels.”