In the text, the lawmakers condemned "the deliberate and systematic efforts of the Hungarian government to undermine the founding values of the Union".
The vote is highly symbolic in that it sets Hungary apart from other EU countries in its alleged failure to uphold values enshrined in the EU treaty like "respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities".
But the vote, which came during a plenary session in Strasbourg, France, doesn't impose any penalty on Orban's government, nor does it bind other EU countries into taking any particular actions.
Delbos-Corfield said Orban and the ruling Fidesz party "have put their time and effort into tearing apart the fabric of democracy and ripping up the rule of law instead of supporting their citizens".
"The costs for Hungarian citizens are clear: They are having their rights removed and opportunities undermined, all while their state is stripped apart by autocrats and oligarchs," she said.
Lawmakers opposing a report on the resolution said it contains "subjective opinions and politically biased statements, and reflects vague concerns, value judgments and double standards".
Hungary's foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, said Thursday during a news conference in Budapest that Hungarian voters had "decided in four parliamentary elections in a row what kind of future they want for the country" by electing Orban and his party.
"We resent that some people in Strasbourg and Brussels think that the Hungarian people are not mature enough to decide their own future."
Hungary has long been on a collision course with its European partners. It has routinely blocked joint statements, decisions and events, ranging from high-level Nato meetings with Ukraine to an EU vote on corporate tax and a common EU position on an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire.
The government in Budapest has opposed some EU sanctions against Russia, notably a freeze on the assets of Russia's Orthodox Church patriarch, as well as energy-related sanctions against Moscow.
Members of the European Commission are meeting on Sunday, when they are expected to announce a cut in Hungary's EU funding unless it takes action to end its democratic backsliding.
Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn said suspending around 70 per cent of the funding to Hungary in some EU programs, notably related to public contract procurement, "can be considered proportionate". It's unclear how much money that would involve.
A full suspension of EU funds is unlikely. Any action must be approved by the member countries, and this requires a "qualified majority". which amounts to 55 per cent of the 27 members representing at least 65 per cent of the total EU population. Some EU lawmakers have expressed concerns that if Italy's far right wins the country's September 25 election it could be difficult to establish that majority.
