In case there were any doubts about increasing weight of the extreme right in the community institutions, and more specifically the group of Viktor Orbán, Marine Le Pen and Santiago Abascal, there will be the Hungarian Eurocommissar Oliver Varhelyi to remember it. Its approval was necessary because it is part of the package that cost so much to put together. And, actually, it is not so surprising, since Varhelyi It already has its journey on European stages. But it is one more medal for the ‘Patriots for Europe’, the Eurogroup promoted by the Hungarian Orbán together with the Austrian Herbert Kickl and the French Le Penwhose president has been Abascal since last weekend.
Of Varhelyiwhich will occupy Health and Animal Healthvarious evils or some cherries usually stand out. But his worst political mistake occurred in 2023, when he announced at his own risk, in his then position of Commissioner for Expansion and Neighborhoodthe suspension of “all payments” to Palestine. He communicated it from his account on X, under the premise of “we are not going to continue as usual.”
He had to back down shortly afterwards, after one of those internal disputes in the EC while trying to clarify whether he was referring to funds for development or humanitarian aid, which are channeled through the HIM. It encountered strong opposition from countries such as France, Spain and Irelandreminding him of the dramatic situation in Gaza. Hours later, the EC clarified that these items were “reviewed” to ensure that they would not go to terrorist organizations against Israel, it was assured that it was not a suspension of payments and that it did not affect humanitarian aid.
Toxic profile
The turmoil continues to weigh on the profile of this 52-year-old diplomat, who was part of the EC in the first term of Ursula von der Leyen as president. One of his most repeated outbursts corresponds to that stage, when he described the deputies of the Eurochamber of “idiots” in a session on the prospects for enlargement with the countries of the Balkansone of its main competencies at that time. It was a phrase uttered with the microphone open, which provoked angry calls for resignation and which was retracted, as usually happens in these alleged slips. He already had a reputation for being lazy among his staff, which completed his toxic profile.
He had become Euro Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood in 2019, after having directed the Hungarian representation in Brussels for the previous four years. Since 2008 he had been climbing positions among various positions in the Magyar delegation in community institutions.
His political career is not directly related to militancy in the FideszOrbán’s ultranationalist party, since formally his position is independent. But it is supported and has been supported by the Hungarian Prime Minister, declared enemy of Von der Leyen and ally of Vladimir Putin.
Negotiation ‘in extremis’
Orbán He is the highest representative of the block of countries aimed at suspending the right to asylum and not abiding by anything that has to do with migration agreements at the European level. TO Varhelyi To his credit, he does not use his X account to encourage pro-Russian messages. Or, at least, it doesn’t always do so. On the occasion of the 1,000 days since the start of Russian aggressionsent a message of support to the victims and stressed that Ukraine “is part of Europe.” It was in full negotiation ‘in extremis’ to reach the agreement that gives the green light to all the Euro commissioners.
Varhelyi He had failed his first exam for Animal Health and Health, then expanded to health emergencies, at the beginning of November. Its approval by the European Parliament had also been postponed. His qualification to occupy the position of Animal Health and Welfare was up in the air, which was subject to a second written questionnaire that he apparently completed with flying colors.
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