Navracsics rejected as EU Commissioner for Culture

European Parliament’s Culture Committee rejected the nomination of Hungarian candidate Tibor Navracsics as the new EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Citizenship due to his record in a government accused of curbing civic rights. He is likely to receive a curtailed or perhaps another portfolio.

The Cultural Committee voted the Hungarian candidate down 14-12 but accepted Navracsics in another role in the European Commission but asked its incoming president, Jean-Claude Juncker not to assign him the original portfolio Juncker had proposed.

"Both Mr. Navracsics and also Mr. Juncker must understand that there can be no question of giving a portfolio focused on values to someone who has belonged to a Hungarian government that has been indifferent, if not opposed, to fundamental European values," said German Social Democrat Petra Kammerevert.

Cecilia Wikström, chair of the EP Committee on Petitions noted that “during the last years, Mr. Navracsics has taken up various political functions and in every single one of them, he trampled European values. He was criticized by the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the European Commission for limiting media pluralism. He simply did not convince us that he is willing to change his political course and will be committed to serving the EU's citizens and their rights."