Orban accused of opportunism over sweeping emergency powers
VIKTOR ORBAN, the Hungarian prime minister, faced mounting international criticism last night after he forced through sweeping emergency powers that allow him to “rule by decree”.
The measures, which impose a state of emergency without time limits and include five-year jail terms for spreading disinformation about coronavirus, were adopted by the Hungarian parliament yesterday, despite protests by opposition groups. Human rights groups and the 47-state Council of Europe, Europe’s main rights forum, warned the legislation risked handing disproportionate powers to Mr Orbán.
The government rejected the criticism, arguing that the powers could be instantly revoked by the parliament.
“This is an authorisation limited both in time and scope ... as it is solely related to the coronavirus and you are crying a dictatorship,” Bence Rétvári, the state secretary, told opposition parties before the vote. However, critics noted that, since Mr Orbán’s ruling Fidesz holds an impregnable two-thirds majority in parliament, the powers could remain in place until he asked for them to be lifted.
Mr Orbán, who coined the phrase “illiberal democracy” to describe his brand of nationalist identity politics, has frequently clashed with the EU over his moves to curb the power of independent media and the judiciary.
Under the powers passed yesterday, breaching mandatory isolation could lead to up to eight years in prison.
Critics said the measures could leave journalists at risk of jail sentences for reporting on the pandemic and placed huge power in the hands of Hungary’s public prosecutor, a key Orbán ally.
Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe human rights commissioner, wrote to the government last week warning that the bill would enable the government “to rule by decree without a clear cut-off date”.
The UN human rights office said it was following events “with concern” while regional analysts said Mr Orbán’s move looked deeply opportunistic.
“Orbán has never lost an opportunity to line his pockets and centralise power,” said Mujtaba Rahman of the Eurasia Group. “Covid-19 gives him another perfect pretext to do that – an external enemy which populists like him will exploit to strengthen his power and his base.” The rules were passed as Hungary reported a total of 447 coronavirus cases with 15 deaths. George Soros, the Hungarian-born billionaire financier, announced he would contribute €1million (£890,000) to Budapest’s fight against the crisis.
Mr Soros, whose international liberal movement has seen him clash with Mr Orbán in recent years, said he had been moved by history to make his donation.
“I lived through World War Two, the Arrow Cross rule and the siege in the city. I remember what it is like to live in extreme circumstances,” he said.