The European Parliament has postponed the confirmation of Hungary’s nominee, Olivér Várhelyi, for the role of European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare.
On Monday, November 11, Members of Parliament decided to delay the vote until after the final round of commissioner hearings, scheduled for Wednesday, November 13.
Members of the Health and Agriculture Committees are divided on Várhelyi’s appointment. Pascal Canfin, an MEP from the “Renew Europe” group, told Politico that liberals and social democrats remain “not satisfied” with the nomination, and neither the Greens nor the Left factions have committed to supporting Várhelyi, leaving him short of the necessary votes.
Concerns about Várhelyi stem in part from Hungary’s independent approach during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it became the only EU country to distribute Russian and Chinese vaccines that lacked EU approval. This decision has fueled skepticism about Várhelyi’s alignment with EU health and regulatory standards.
