The decision on Hungary’s nominee for EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi, has been pushed to Wednesday, November 13. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) postponed the vote, marking Várhelyi as the only candidate not immediately approved after the initial hearing.
MEPs requested additional written answers, initially planning a decision for Monday, November 11.
Left-leaning MEPs, particularly those in the liberal Renew and socialist S&D groups, expressed concerns over Várhelyi’s stances on abortion and vaccination. Many argue their resistance is more about his connection to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán than actual policy disagreements, especially since EU abortion laws aren’t part of his designated role, and Hungary’s laws align with most of the EU.
Despite pressure from Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen to approve Várhelyi swiftly, leftist MEPs push for either his rejection or the removal of reproductive health and vaccination from his responsibilities. They’re reportedly motivated by the goal of facilitating “abortion tourism” within the EU, covering travel costs for women in restrictive countries like Poland to obtain abortions in more liberal countries. This approach, however, would bypass national laws and conflict with EU treaties, making it a moot point.
Euractiv sources suggest that S&D led the effort to delay Várhelyi’s nomination, with support from Renew and members of von der Leyen’s own European People’s Party (EPP). According to one centrist MEP, outright rejection of Várhelyi seems unlikely, so the strategy now aims to strip key issues from his portfolio.
Politically, outright rejection could create a long delay as Hungary nominates a replacement, potentially stalling the new administration. The EPP seems more inclined to keep Várhelyi but limit his influence. The group could have secured his approval sooner by joining conservative allies, yet chose not to, wary of the backlash that might have hurt Italy’s Raffaele Fitto, another conservative nominee and von der Leyen’s pick for Commission Vice President. Facing pressure from leftist parties, particularly the S&D, von der Leyen’s attempts to strengthen ties with Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni could still face hurdles if the left continues to oppose a conservative VP.
