In a state of emergency linked to the coronavirus, the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban should obtain, on Monday, the green light from the parliament granting him radically reinforced powers.
For the opposition, these measures to fight the epidemic are "disproportionate". Critics believe that the measure is intended to cement the control of the national-conservative government, taking the health crisis as a pretext.
Attacks on the rule of law multiplied
The bill will allow the Hungarian leader to extend the state of emergency in force since March 11 indefinitely, without seeking parliamentary approval. Under this regime, the government may “suspend the use of certain laws by decree, deviate from the statutory provisions and introduce other extraordinary measures” in order to guarantee “the health, personal and material security of citizens, as well as the 'economy'. "We must do everything in our power to stop the spread of the virus.
The bill fits perfectly into the Hungarian constitutional framework, "defended Justice Minister Judit Varga. But the policy deployed by Viktor Orban in a decade of power leaves fear to the opposition that the 56-year-old leader abuses these exceptional means: since 2010 he has already, according to many independent organizations, multiplied the attacks on the State of law in the field of justice, civil society, freedom of the press. Since opposition parliamentarians refused last week to pass the bill under emergency procedure, they have been accused of "treason".
"No time to discuss legal issues"
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said it was "following the political developments" in Hungary with concern. The Council of Europe has warned that "an indefinite and uncontrolled state of emergency cannot guarantee respect for the fundamental principles of democracy". Nine press organizations have called on EU leaders to oppose the bill, which also provides for up to five years in prison for spreading "fake news" about the virus or the flu. government measures.
Budapest argues that despite the indefinite duration of the state of emergency, "Parliament can withdraw its consent at any time" and return to the ordinary framework. "I clearly told the European whiny people that I did not have time to discuss doubtless fascinating but theoretical legal questions" when there are "lives to save", for his part swept Viktor Orban. At the start of the epidemic, the Prime Minister blamed the role of immigration in the spread of the virus, saying that it was "mainly foreigners who introduced the disease". Hungary, which closed its borders to foreigners and instituted population containment measures, said Sunday 408 cases of new coronavirus, which left 13 dead.
- Parliament
- Covid 19
- World
- Coronavirus
- Hungary
- Viktor Orban