Policy

Ilaria Salis, yes to parliamentary immunity from the Eurocamera Commission

Avs MEP remains free: 'Ready to stand trial in Italy'. Final decision in October. Hungary: 'Antifa is terrorism'

23 September 2025

Primo verdetto dell’Europarlamento sull’immunità parlamentare favorevole a Ilaria Salis

3' min read

Key points

Ilaria Salis: "Important and positive signal"
Roberto Salis: "Confident about what the official vote will be"
Lawyers: 'Confirmed that Hungary violates the rule of law'
Hungary: "Antifa terrorist organisation, Salis coming to Budapest to strike"
The Left: Salis 1- Orban 0

3' min read

The Legal Affairs Commission of the Euro Chamber rejected the waiver of immunity of Avs MEP Ilaria Salis. Now the final word goes to the plenary, which will meet and vote in early October. The request for waiver of immunity that had been submitted by Hungary was rejected by 13 votes to 12. Decisive, according to parliamentary sources, were two MEPs from the European People's Party. The tabulations, however, will not be available as the vote was taken by secret ballot after a request by the Socialist and Democrat group.

Ilaria Salis: 'Important and positive signal'

"Today, the Juri Commission decided to defend my immunity and the independence of the Parliament, and to reject the Hungarian regime's request for revocation. This is an important and positive signal. I have full confidence that Parliament will confirm this choice in the October plenary, affirming the centrality of the rule of law and democratic guarantees,' was Ilaria Salis's warm comment. "Defending my immunity does not mean escaping justice, but protecting me from political persecution by the Orbán regime. That is why its protection is essential. The Italian authorities remain free to open proceedings against me, as I strongly hope and request,' said the Avs MEP.

Oggi la Commissione JURI ha deciso di difendere la mia immunità e l'indipendenza del Parlamento, e di respingere la richiesta di revoca avanzata dal regime ungherese.
È un segnale importante e positivo.
Ho piena fiducia che il Parlamento confermerà questa scelta nella plenaria di…
— Ilaria Salis (@SalisIlaria) September 23, 2025

"Defending my immunity does not mean escaping justice, but protecting myself from political persecution by the Orbán regime. That is why its protection is essential. The Italian authorities remain free to open proceedings against me, as I strongly wish and demand,' continued the Monza-based activist.

Roberto Salis: 'Confident about what the official vote will be'

"We are a little more serene, very happy, but the official vote will be in October. Fortunately, so far the Commission's indications have never been contradicted by the plenary, so we hope,' was the comment of the MEP's father Roberto Salis.

Lawyers: 'Confirmed that Hungary violates rule of law'

"The committee did not consider that there were conditions for a fair trial in Hungary. The legislation on parliamentary immunity was interpreted correctly. One could not disregard some objective data and issues that exist in Hungary regarding the violation of the rule of law,' is the comment of Ilaria Salis' Milan lawyers, Eugenio Losco and Mauro Straini.

A fair and equitable trial in Hungary, the lawyers explained, 'cannot be guaranteed in such a political case, where there is pressure from the Hungarian government and this applies to Salis and the Hungarians themselves'. These are 'fundamental' issues, the advocates added, 'and it is right that the committee recognised them. This is a first step, the real vote will be taken by the plenary on 7 October'. On the fact that Salis said she would like to be tried in Italy, the two lawyers said: 'She asked for a fair trial and for some issues it could not take place in Hungary. German citizens accused in the Budapest events are being tried in Germany and we wonder what prevents Italy from bringing an Italian citizen to trial in Italy'.

Hungary: 'Antifa terrorist organisation, Salis coming to Budapest to strike'

Ideological reaction from the Hungarian government: 'Antifa is not a political movement, but a violent organisation. Hungary's goal is clear: peace and security for our citizens. Antifa groups represent the opposite: all over Europe and in the US we have seen activism turn into street violence, intimidation and chaos. That is why we have decided, following the US example, to designate Antifa as a terrorist organisation in Hungary," said Balazs Orban, political director of Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban's office, commenting on the news. "Anyone who seeks to achieve political goals through beatings, fear and violence falls under the definition of terrorism. The state has a duty to protect the innocent from such threats," Orban wrote on X. "Ilaria Salis and her associates arrived in Budapest in 2023 in the name of this movement, not to discuss, but to strike: attacking innocent bystanders, some of whom were left almost lifeless. The authorities arrested and charged her, but she found refuge behind a Brussels warrant'.

The Left: Salis 1- Orban 0

"Our colleagues in the Committee on Legal Affairs today took a decision in line with the fundamental values of the European Union. Democracy and the rule of law are fundamental pillars of our European cohesion. It is important that these principles are respected in all member states, and Orban must also understand this,' says Martin Schirdewan, the co-chairman of The Left group of which the Italian MEP is a member, in a note entitled: 'Salis 1, Orban 0'.

The Lega League secretary Matteo Salvini takes an entirely different view, writing on social X: 'He who errs, does not pay'. The Minister of Infrastructure in the Meloni government also attached a photo of Salis with the words 'Shame, shame, shame. Armchair saved, dignity lost'.