Dozens of European Parliamentarians from different political parties warned that states could try to restrict individual freedoms and using the Covid-19 pandemic as an excues for their authoritarian policies.

In an open letter published in the Libération newspaper, a long list of MEPs demand the European Union Commission to take action.

The letter asked the Commission to act and drew attention to the latest decisions by Poland’s populist Law and Justice party and Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Hungary.

The letter reminded that the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party wants to hold elections on May 10 despite the pandemic, and has proposed legislation to introduce postal ballots to replace physical voting.

The MEPs also reminded of the decision by the Hungarian parliament, which has a two-thirds majority in favour of the prime minister, Viktor Orbán, to pass a bill on 30 March extending his already strong powers.

The letter was signed by the following MEPs:

Fabienne Keller, Renew Europe, France, Nathalie Loiseau, Renew Europe, France, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, S&D, Spain, Sophie in 't Veld, Renew Europe, Netherlands, Michal Šimečka, Renew Europe, Sylwia Spurek, S&D, Poland, Bernard Guetta, Renew Europe, France, Cornelia Ernst, GUE, Germany, Damien Carême, Les Verts, France , Dragos Tudorache, Renew Europe, Romania, Salima Yenbou, Les Verts, France, Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield, Les Verts, France, Ramona Strugariu, Renew Europe, Romania, Abir Al- Sahlani, Renew Europe, Sweden, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Renew Europe, Germany, Maite Pagazaurtundúa, Renew Europe, Spain, Hilde Vautmans, Europe, Belgium, Tineke Strik, Les Verts, Netherlands, Anna Júlia Donáth, Renew Europe, Hungary, Olivier Chastel, Renew Europe (Belgium).