Hungary constitution vote criticized

Sunday, March 10, 2013 – Brussels—The European Commission has expressed concerns over a vote in Hungary’s parliament next week to change the constitution, arguing it contravenes EU rules in areas such as the judiciary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban presents his annual state-of-the-nation speech in Budapest. In a phone call on Saturday afternoon, Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told Prime Minister Viktor Orban that his government and the parliament should address concerns “in accordance with EU democratic principles”. “We will now continue bilateral consultations to discuss the concerns,” said EU executive spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen.

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