Shock in Hungary — outrage across Europe. The European Parliament has refused to lift the immunity of Italian far-left MEP Ilaria Salis, a member of the notorious “Hammer Gang”, known for vicious attacks on peaceful demonstrators with clubs and hammers. The decision — backed by CDU votes — sparked fury after another gang member was recently sentenced to five years in Germany.
From Gina Tedesca
Violence, ideology, and double standards
In 2023, Salis allegedly took part in brutal assaults on participants of a legally approved march in Budapest. Witnesses say the gang deliberately targeted victims with clubs — several were left bloodied and seriously injured. Salis spent 15 months in pre-trial detention in Hungary. Then, after being elected to the EU Parliament on a far-left ticket — she walked free.
Meanwhile in Germany, Lina E., leader of the same “Hammer Gang,” was sentenced to over five years in prison by the Federal Court of Justice for a string of violent ambushes on conservatives between 2018 and 2020.
While Germany enforces justice, Brussels provides protection. The EU Parliament has effectively become a safe haven for left-wing extremists.
“EU Shield for Violence”
Socialists, Greens, Leftists, and Liberals voted against lifting Salis’s immunity, citing “doubts about the rule of law in Hungary.” In reality, Brussels has shielded a convicted street militant from facing justice. The decisive vote came from CDU MEP Axel Voss, who proudly confirmed he had voted against removing Salis’s immunity in the Legal Affairs Committee — and again in the plenary session.
Bystron: “The EU Parliament has lost all credibility”
German MEP Petr Bystron reacted sharply after the vote:
“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
Bystron himself has had his parliamentary immunity lifted twice — both times over flimsy, politically motivated accusations. Once, for sharing a harmless meme featuring Angela Merkel; another time, for supposed bribery, which later proved to be part of a media smear campaign against EU-critical politicians.
While conservative MEPs are targeted for opinions, left-wing extremists are protected by Brussels.
Outrage in Hungary
The Hungarian government called the vote a “disgrace” and an “endorsement of left-wing terror.”
Government spokesman Zoltán Kovács stated:
“The European Parliament is now harboring a dangerous extremist.”
Across Europe, many see this as a slap in the face to every victim of political violence.
While Hungary seeks justice, Brussels silences it. A far-left militant who attacked innocent people now enjoys immunity — while right-wing parliamentarians are persecuted for mere words.
A perfect illustration of today’s two-tier justice in the EU — one for leftist radicals, another for everyone else.
Italian citizen Ilaria Salis, who is accused of being a member of the violent Antifa “Hammer gang,” has been elected to the EU parliament and now has immunity through her status as an MEP.
This means she will be released from prison in Hungary, where she is currently standing… pic.twitter.com/YXzG7Fq9XM
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) June 11, 2024
