Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party said in a statement that there was ‘no excuse’ for the behaviour of MEP Balázs Győrffy.
A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) belonging to Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party, Balázs Győrffy, has stepped down after reportedly turning violent in a drunken argument with a woman.
Győrffy announced on Friday he was “resigning from all public positions” and leaving Fidesz, the party which has ruled in Hungary for an uninterrupted 14 years under Viktor Orbán.
“I failed, and therefore I accept all responsibility and consequences,” Győrffy announced in a statement on his Facebook account.
“Last night I got into a drunken argument with a lady, and to my greatest regret, the argument escalated into violence,” he added. “Although I regrettably do not remember what happened, what I did is unacceptable.”
He adds that he no longer has a place in public life and will accept any legal consequences of his actions.
In a Facebook post, Fidesz – which is represented in the European Parliament by 11 lawmakers, including Győrffy – said: “Fidesz has clear rules and values, and whoever violates them cannot be a member of our community,”
“European Parliament representative Balázs Győrffy got into a drunken argument with a lady last night, and the argument turned violent,” the statement adds. “There is no excuse for the behaviour of Balázs Győrffy, who acts in such an irresponsible and unacceptable manner, he must leave our community immediately.”
Fidesz prides itself on promoting so-called ‘traditional’ Christian values, including conventional family values.
Győrffy’s fall from grace comes less than three months since he was elected to the European Parliament in June’s European elections.
He has also stepped down as the president of the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture (NAK), which he has chaired since 2013.
It is not the first time that a Fidesz MEP is forced to step down due to misconduct.
In the midst of the 2020 Covid pandemic, Fidesz MEP József Szájer quit after he was caught by police attending what was described as a lockdown-breaching gay sex party in Brussels. Prosecutors said he was found with drugs in his backpack as he tried to flee, reportedly by sliding down a drainpipe.
Fidesz has for years been criticised for its hostile policy towards the LGBTIQ+ community.
