Hungary should be monitored for abuses of human rights and the rule of law, MEPs said in a motion passed on Wednesday.
They said the European Commission should “immediately initiate an in-depth monitoring process” in Hungary and to report back before September.
The non-binding resolution passed 362 votes to 247, with 88 abstentions, but it reflects a growing agitation amongst some lawmakers over Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s leadership.
Orban recently floated the idea of debating whether Hungary should bring back the death penalty; capital punishment was abolished in the country after the fall of communism more than two decades ago.
His Fidesz party is a member of the centre-right EPP Group in the European Parliament, which has so far refused to condemn the Hungarian governments.
“It’s a very strong message, because in fact it shows that a majority of this parliament is completely against the attitude and behaviour of Mr. Orban,” said Belgian MEP Louis Michael, a former Euro