EU executive head backs start of punitive action versus Hungary over rule of law

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he supported the European Parliament’s decision on Wednesday to open a punitive procedure against Hungary for persistently flaunting democratic rules. The procedure, called Article 7, can theoretically go as far as suspending of Hungary’s voting rights in the EU. “If I was a member of the European Parliament, I would have voted in favor of Article 7,” Juncker said in a tweet.