Watch: Italian lawmaker wanted by Hungary clings to EU immunity

Ilaria Salis was arrested over alleged violence at a neo-Nazi rally in Budapest

EU lawmakers on Tuesday narrowly rejected Hungary's request to strip left-wing Italian lawmaker Ilaria Salis of her parliamentary immunity for alleged violence at a neo-Nazi rally in Budapest.

The European Parliament in Strasbourg backed the anti-fascist activist, who has become a high-profile foe of Hungary's nationalist government, by 306 votes to 305 in a secret ballot.

"This vote is a victory for democracy, rule of law, and antifascism," Salis said in a statement.

Salis, 41, was arrested with other activists in Budapest in February 2023 while taking part in a protest against an annual commemoration by neo-Nazis. 

MEPs vote for Ilaria Salis to retain her immunity.

She was released from detention after more than a year, following her election to the EU parliament with a small leftist party in 2024. 

Hungarian prosecutors requested an 11-year prison sentence and the case made international headlines when Salis appeared in a Budapest court with her feet shackled.

Salis has requested to be tried in Italy. 

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.