The Hungarian Prime Minister has ruled by decree since spring 2020.
(Photo: Reuters)
Budapest Hungary’s government declared a state of emergency from Wednesday because of the war in Ukraine. This was announced by Prime Minister Viktor Orban in a Facebook video. He said his cabinet needed the maneuvering space under the state of emergency to respond quickly to the challenges of the war.
The state of emergency allows the government to rule by decree. This allows it to overrule applicable laws and take coercive measures by decree. Shortly before the end of the current Corona emergency at the end of the month, Orban found a new way to continue to govern in this way.
The parliament in Budapest created a new category on Tuesday. The government can now also declare a state of emergency when a neighboring country is affected by armed conflict, war or a humanitarian disaster. Ukraine, against which Russia has been waging a war of aggression for three months, is one of Hungary’s neighbors.
The 136 deputies of the right-wing nationalist Fidesz party voted for the corresponding constitutional amendment. The health emergency that Orban imposed at the beginning of the corona pandemic in spring 2020 and that Parliament has since extended several times expires on May 31.
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.
Orban also used the health emergency for purposes that could hardly be justified by overcoming the health situation. These included measures to financially damage opposition-governed communities or to give advantages to pro-government businessmen.
More: Why Hungary and other Central Europeans fear an oil boycott