Published on 19 June 2023
FIRST SECTION
Application no. 75465/17
István TUKÁCS and Others
against Hungary
lodged on 18 October 2017
communicated on 1 June 2023
SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CASE
The application concerns the decision, on 10 April 2017, of the Speaker of Parliament to reduce the monthly renumeration of the applicants, members of Parliament, for their conduct during the speech delivered before the debate on the agenda by another member of Parliament. Applicants Mr Tukács, Mr Teleki, Mr Szakács, Mr Szabó and Mr Józsa were fined 50,000 Hungarian forints (HUF) (approximately 130 euros (EUR)) and applicants Ms Bangóné, Ms Heringes, Mr Korózs, Mr Gőgös and Mr Horváth were fined HUF 100,000 (approximately EUR 260). The applicants unsuccessfully challenged the Speaker’s decisions before the Committee of Immunities and subsequently before the plenary Parliament. The plenary upheld the decisions by a majority during its sessions on 30 May 2017. The applicants complain under Articles 10 and 13 of the Convention.
QUESTIONS TO THE PARTIES
1. Has there been an interference with the applicants’ freedom of expression, within the meaning of Article 10 § 1 of the Convention, in particular having regard to their role as elected members of Parliament in participating in debates of public interest? If so, was that interference prescribed by law and necessary in terms of Article 10 § 2 (see, mutatis mutandis, Szanyi v. Hungary, no. 35493/13, §§ 26-28 and 33-46, 8 November 2016, and Karácsony and Others v. Hungary [GC], nos. 42461/13 and 44357/13, §§ 137-47 and 155, 17 May 2016)?
2. Did the applicants have at their disposal an effective domestic remedy for the alleged violation of their freedom of expression, in accordance with Article 13 of the Convention?
LIST OF APPLICANTS
No.
Applicant’s Name
Year of birth
Nationality
Place of residence
1.
István TUKÁCS
1958
Hungarian
Nyíregyháza
2.
Ildikó BANGÓNÉ BORBÉLY
1972
Hungarian
Kaba
3.
Zoltán GŐGÖS
1960
Hungarian
Pápa
4.
Anita HERINGES
1984
Hungarian
Paks
5.
Imre HORVÁTH
1944
Hungarian
Budapest
6.
István JÓZSA
1953
Hungarian
Diósd
7.
Lajos KORÓZS
1958
Hungarian
Eger
8.
Sándor SZABÓ
1975
Hungarian
Szeged
9.
László SZAKÁCS
1975
Hungarian
Komló
10.
László TELEKI
1959
Hungarian
Nagykanizsa