In a recent interview, Ilaria Salis, a former teacher and current Member of the European Parliament (MEP), shared her harrowing experience following her detention in Budapest. Salis, who was arrested in February 2023 during a counter-demonstration against a neo-Nazi rally, faced three counts of attempted assault and was accused of being part of an extreme left-wing organization, charges she vehemently denies.
During her 16-month detention, Salis described the conditions as unbearable, detailing her experiences in overcrowded cells infested with rats and bugs, where she often went days without basic hygiene and medical care. “It was a very tough period,” she reflected, revealing just how challenging that time was for her both physically and mentally.
After being granted house arrest in May, she was able to secure a seat in the European Parliament as a representative of the Greens and Left Alliance the following month. This victory granted her parliamentary immunity, allowing her to finally leave house arrest and return to Italy in June.
However, her situation took another turn when representatives of the Fidesz party, led by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, called for the EU to strip her of that immunity. Speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the request for withdrawing her parliamentary immunity was formally presented. Salis responded to this development, expressing her hopes that the parliament would uphold the rule of law and human rights, especially in the face of what she termed the “arrogance of an illiberal democracy” in Hungary.
She pointed out the timing of the request, stating, “It is not a coincidence that the transmission of the request to the parliament took place on October 10, the day after my intervention in the plenary session on the Hungarian presidency, where I strongly criticised Orbán’s actions.” For her, this was not just about her personal future but about the broader vision of what Europe should represent.
Reacting to her statement, Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács accused Salis of portraying herself as a victim. He emphasized that her arrest was not due to her political beliefs, but rather for violent actions against Hungarian citizens.
The request to strip Salis of her immunity has already been sent to the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, and is expected to be discussed in the relevant parliamentary committee. The entire process could take up to four months before reaching a final vote.
