THE NEW YORK TIMES: Some European Parliament members sang “Bella Ciao,” a song associated with antifascism, for Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary until ordered to stop.
For years, Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, a champion of “illiberal democracy,” has taken swipes at the European Union and its officials.
And they have not been shy about criticizing him back.
On Wednesday, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, some members took that to a new level — in song. As Mr. Orban arrived at the Parliament to deliver a speech, progressives greeted him with a rendition of “Bella Ciao,” an Italian antifascist resistance song from the World War II-era.
Their musical taunt, which lasted for less than a minute, was shut down by the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, as other members more politically in tune with the conservative Mr. Orban chanted slogans supporting him.
“This is not the Eurovision,” Ms. Metsola told the chamber. She wryly noted that the song was more “Money Heist,” a Spanish television series about a bank heist that features the haunting music of “Bella Ciao,” than Abba, the Swedish pop group that was propelled to fame after winning Eurovision 50 years ago. » | Jenny Gross, Reporting from Brussels | Wednesday, October 9, 2024
