🇪🇺Tusk steps in, Macron hides: who leads Europe now?
Poland takes the lead against Hungary’s crackdown, while France stays silent. With democracy at stake, will Macron act before the February 27 deadline?
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For centuries, France has stood as the cornerstone of human rights, the birthplace of the Déclaration des Droits de l’Homme et du Citoyen, and a moral compass in Europe. As the nation of the Enlightenment and a defender of the Rule of Law, France has historically been at the forefront of defending democracy and fundamental freedoms within its own borders and across the European Union.
Yet, today, as the very foundation of European civic space is under siege, France remains curiously absent from a crucial battle: the European Commission’s case against Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Law before the Court of Justice of the European Union.
On February 14, a coalition of 17 European and French civil society organizations, including La Ligue des Droits de l’Homme and Transparency International, urged the French government to join this legal action.
The seriousness of the situation cannot be overstated.
Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Office is wielding unchecked powers to silence independent media, civil society organizations, and anti-corruption watchdogs. Transparency International Hungary and the investigative platform Átlátszó are already facing severe repercussions, and the message from Budapest is clear: more repression will follow.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán openly vowed to 'eliminate' dissenting voices and 'make their existence legally impossible.' He went further, praising Donald Trump and Elon Musk for cutting funds to USAID.
France has long positioned itself as the guardian of European values. President Emmanuel Macron himself underscored this commitment when he awarded the Executive Director of Transparency International Hungary the Knighthood of the National Order of Merit a month ago.
This was a powerful and symbolic act, acknowledging the essential role of civil society in holding power to account. Yet, symbolism must be followed by action. France cannot afford to remain silent while the Commission and a growing coalition of Member States take a stand.
Poland, not France, is now driving the European response
Yesterday, the European Parliament and the Netherlands joined the case against Hungary. Today, Poland followed. In a striking shift in EU power dynamics, it is Warsaw - not Paris – that is now leading the charge in defending democracy in Europe.
A Poland that only months ago was fighting its own battle against democratic backsliding is now setting the pace for Europe’s response to autocracy.
Poland’s intervention is historic. It signals that the EU’s younger democracies are stepping up where older, established powers hesitate. If France does not act, it risks being relegated to the sidelines, watching as others shape the future of European democracy.
This is not the leadership role that France has historically claimed - it is one it must reclaim.
Why this case matters for France and Europe
This case is not merely about Hungary. It is about setting a legal precedent for the entire EU. The Commission’s challenge to the Sovereignty Protection Law is a test of whether Member States can systematically undermine civic freedoms without consequence. Already, Georgia passed a law mirroring Hungary’s SPO, while Slovakia and Bulgaria are considering the adoption of similar bills.
If France joins, it will send an unequivocal message that European democracy is non-negotiable. It will strengthen the legal framework protecting civil society and independent journalism across the Union. More importantly, it will reaffirm that France is not just a spectator in the fight for democracy, but one of its champions.
A question of French leadership
France has always played a unique role in European integration. Today, defending European democracy must be the next chapter in France’s leadership story. By joining the CJEU case, France would protect its legacy as the EU’s moral leader, counteract the authoritarian blueprint Orbán is borrowing from Vladimir Putin, and ensure that democratic values remain the backbone of European integration.
The deadline for France to intervene is February 27. The moment calls for decisive action. Will France reaffirm its historic role as Europe’s moral leader, or will it stand by as others shape the future of democracy in its place? The choice is clear, and the time to act is now.
You can read the letter here and learn more about the SPO here.
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Or is there a petition with momentum ?
Besides sharing it on his networks, are there any direct actions one can take ? Is it worth writing to the élysée or other official agencies ?