Illaria Salis, an Italian left-wing MEP associated with Antifa, has outlined her defence following the announcement of the Hungarian authorities’ request to revoke her European Parliament immunity.
Salis, who had been detained in Budapest following an Antifa demonstration that turned violent early in 2023, now faces charges of assault on a far-right protester. After 15 months behind bars, she was placed under house arrest, awaiting a trial she has said she feared would be politically compromised. She returned to Italy in June last year.
At a press conference on October 23, Salis said her case was a matter of “human rights.” The Italian MEP started by denouncing the condition of her detention in Budapest.
“I was held in prison in inhuman conditions and unable to communicate with my family,” she said.
She then accused the Hungarian authorities of subjecting her to “torture” to get a “fabricated confession” out of her.
Salis said returning to Hungary for a hearing would mean not being given a fair trial.
“There are serious problems in Hungarian politics,” she said, adding that Hungary was drifting towards authoritarianism.
“There is a systematic persecution against me and it would have persisted if I was not elected,” she said.
During the press conference, Salis called on the European Parliament to strike down Budapest’s petition.
Her plea to the parliament was clear: reject Hungary’s request, not on technicalities but on the grounds of defending the fabric of European democracy.
“The call [for her to be sent back to Hungary for trial] is coming from Budapest. I hope the European Parliament will defend the rule of law and stand for human rights and not submit to the pressure from [Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor] Orbán,” she said.
In Salis’ view, Hungary’s request to revoke her immunity was not only a legal matter but also a calculated attempt to stifle her work as an MEP, preventing her from “resisting the actions of an authoritarian government”.
On October 22, in a press release, Salis had also argued that Budapest’s demand was rooted in her vocal criticism of Orbán.
The timing of Hungary’s request came following her speech in the European Parliament, where she criticised Hungary’s current presidency of the Council of the European Union.
“It is no coincidence that the transmission of this request to the Parliament occurred on October 10, the day after my speech in the Plenary on the Hungarian presidency, where I strongly criticised Orbán’s regime,” she wrote on social media on October 22.
Hungarian Government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs justified Budapest’s request, saying: “Let me make it clear again: you weren’t arrested for your ‘political views’, you were arrested and put on trial for instances of armed assault on innocent Hungarian citizens!”, he said on October 22.
“This whole charade is a joke, you are no democrat, and you are no martyr. You are a common thug,” he added.
🤬 @SalisIlaria, you acting like you are some sort of victim here is not only baffling but also utterly disgusting.
❗ Let me make it clear again: you weren’t arrested for your “political views”, you were arrested and put on trial for instances of armed assault on innocent… https://t.co/29f8RrCIoG
— Zoltan Kovacs (@zoltanspox) October 22, 2024
At the press conference where she outlined her defence, Salis appeared uneasy, responding hesitantly to journalists’ questions.
When asked about potential video evidence where she appeared to show her attacking a demonstrator, she remained vague.
“Members will have access to what they request and the facts are going to be considered,” Salis said.
The Hungarian authorities’ request is still in its early stages, with no immediate action expected.
It must be reviewed by the European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, then passed to the Legal Affairs Committee. Ultimately the MEPs will decide the outcome.
