The political landscape in Hungary is rife with tension, raising eyebrows across Europe. The European Parliament has made headlines by declining to lift the immunity of Italian far-left MEP Ilaria Salis, a member of the infamous “Hammer Gang,” known for violent confrontations with peaceful protesters. This decision, which was notably supported by votes from the CDU, has ignited outrage, particularly following the recent sentencing of another gang affiliate to five years in prison in Germany.
By Gina Tedesca
When Violence Meets Political Ideology
In 2023, Salis allegedly participated in aggressive assaults against attendees of a lawful march in Budapest. Eyewitness accounts reveal that the gang specifically targeted victims with clubs, leaving many bloodied and seriously injured. Despite spending 15 months in pre-trial detention in Hungary, Salis was released after her election to the EU Parliament on a far-left platform.
In contrast, Lina E., the leader of the same “Hammer Gang,” has been sentenced to over five years in prison by Germany’s Federal Court of Justice for orchestrating a series of attacks on conservatives between 2018 and 2020.
While Germany pursues justice, Brussels appears to extend a protective blanket over leftist extremism. The EU Parliament could now be viewed as a sanctuary for those with radical views.
The “EU Shield” for Extremism
Votes from socialists, greens, leftists, and liberals who opposed the lifting of Salis’s immunity were justified by concerns regarding the rule of law in Hungary. However, the reality appears to be that Brussels has indeed safeguarded a convicted militant from facing justice. Notably, CDU MEP Axel Voss affirmed his decision to maintain Salis’s immunity during both the Legal Affairs Committee vote and the plenary session.
Bystron: “Credibility in Jeopardy”
German MEP Petr Bystron voiced strong criticism in the aftermath of the vote, stating, “With this decision, the EU Parliament has completely lost its credibility.”
Skandal: Linksextremistin behält Immunität
Das Europäische Parlament hat komplett seine Glaubwürdigkeit verloren!
Dank den Stimmen der CDU wird der Hammerbanden-Prozess gegen Ilaria Salis blockiert. pic.twitter.com/eFM8vlb4Zv
— Petr Bystron (@PetrBystronAfD) October 7, 2025
Interestingly, Bystron himself has faced the lifting of his parliamentary immunity twice, both times over what he described as flimsy and politically motivated charges—once for sharing a benign meme featuring Angela Merkel and another for an alleged bribery incident that was later revealed to be a smear campaign against EU-skeptical politicians.
As conservative MEPs are increasingly targeted for their opinions, leftist extremists seem to enjoy protection from Brussels.
A Wave of Outrage in Hungary
The Hungarian government has branded the Parliament’s decision a “disgrace” and an “endorsement of left-wing terror.” Government spokesman Zoltán Kovács stated:
“The European Parliament is now harboring a dangerous extremist.”
This has been interpreted throughout Europe as a direct affront to every victim of political violence. While Hungary seeks accountability, Brussels seems intent on silencing it. A far-left militant who has assaulted innocent individuals now benefits from immunity, while right-wing parliamentarians face persecution for their mere statements.
Such a situation exemplifies the dual standards of justice that seem to pervade the EU—one set for leftist radicals, and another for the rest.
Italian citizen Ilaria Salis, accused of being part of the violent Antifa “Hammer gang,” has gained election to the EU parliament, granting her immunity.
This ensures her release from custody in Hungary, where she is currently…
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) June 11, 2024
