The decision by Hungary to grant asylum to the former Polish justice minister has ignited a storm of controversy across European Union institutions, exposing deep fissures in the bloc’s approach to rule of law and political asylum. EU officials have voiced alarm, interpreting Budapest’s move as a direct challenge to shared judicial standards and a potential precedent that could destabilize cooperative efforts on governance and human rights enforcement. Meanwhile, Hungary defends its action as a sovereign right, emphasizing the country’s authority to assess asylum requests independently without external interference.

Key points fueling the dispute include:

  • Questions over the political motivations behind granting asylum.
  • Concerns about undermining EU legal frameworks and…