EU warns Hungary over death penalty

 (Vatican Radio) The European Union's chief executive has warned Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that he is in for "a fight" if he considers restoring the death penalty, which is now banned throughout the 28-nation bloc. 

The president of the European Commission, the EU's executive, Jean-Claude Juncker made clear he was concerned about government suggestions to launch a debate on capital punishment within the EU.

Listen to the report by Stefan Bos: 

"We don't need discussions on obvious things and I'm a strong opponent of the death penalty for so many reasons," he told reporters. "The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU is forbidding the death penalty and Mr Orbán should immediately make clear that this is not his intention. Would it be the intention, it would be a fight."
   
The head of the EU parliament echoed those sentiments, saying the legislature's civil liberties committee would be convened urgently and noting that the EU's charter of fundamental rights prohibits the death penalty.

Capital punishment was abolished in Hungary after the collapse of Communism in 1990. 

RECENT MURDER

But the recent murder of a young female tobacco shop attendant in the southern western Hungarian town of Kaposvar  sparked public anger.

Prime Minister Orbán was quick to raise the issue of the death penalty. 

He told reporters that Hungary already has "three-strikes legislation that allows for lifelong imprisonment".Orban added: "The death penalty question should be put on the agenda in Hungary...to make clear to criminals that Hungary will stop at nothing when it comes to protecting its citizens."

And the parliament faction leader of the prime minister's Fidesz party Antal Rogán has said on public radio that “if a country’s public wants to have the death penalty … then a substantial debate can be raised on the EU level”.

The issue comes at a time when Fidesz is losing ground to the far-right Jobbik party amid public anger over reported corruption scandals, economic difficulties and a perceived crackdown on liberties.  Jobbik, known for its anti-Semitic rhetoric and hard line towards Roma, or gypsies, is a strong supporter of the death penalty.