EU Starts Legal Procedure Against Hungary’s Sovereignty Law

  • EU accuses Hungary of violating several fundamental values
  • Forint slumps to weakest in more than a week against euro

Viktor Orban

Photographer: Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images
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The European Union launched a legal procedure against Hungary over its “sovereignty-protection” law, which independent media and civil groups have said was aimed at intimidating them under Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s rule.

The European Commission on Wednesday sent a letter of formal notice, the first step that may lead to potential lawsuit, according to a statement on the EU executive’s website. It said the law violated a range of fundamental values in the EU, including of democracy, the right to a fair trial as well rules on data protection and the internal market.