Hungary moves to revoke Orban's controversial emergency powers
Isobel Ewing in Budapest
Europe;Hungary

Hungary has revoked a controversial law giving Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government far-reaching powers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The emergency powers triggered international criticism when they were passed in March, with many seeing it as a power grab.

And while the state of emergency comes to an end this week, critics say it's just an optical illusion.

Hungary's parliament, which is dominated by Orbán's Fidesz Party, voted unanimously on Tuesday to lift the state of emergency, thereby ending Orban's special powers.

But opponents say the bill revoking the state of emergency leaves open the possibility for the government to declare another one, and grant itself extra powers – this time without the input of parliament.

It means the government could decide at any point to announce a new health emergency and restrict freedom of movement, access to healthcare and close businesses and shops.

Orbán says ruling by decree allowed him to respond quickly and effectively during the coronavirus emergency, and that his relatively early lockdown was instrumental in halting the spread of infection.

Hungary's population of almost 10 million has reported just over 4,000 infections and around 560 deaths.

 

It's clear that those who have been sounding the alarm that the government can and will abuse the powers it gained in relation to managing the COVID-19 crisis were, in fact, right. [This is] nothing but an optical illusion.
 -  Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Hungarian Helsinki Committee and Amnesty International Hungary.

 

However, critics have said the legislative powers were used in a way that went beyond the fight against the pandemic.

Since March, Orbán has used his power to put healthcare institutions in the control of the police and military and drain the budgets of opposition-led municipalities.

It also became a felony to spread false information, sparking fears of a further erosion of press freedom in Hungary. Under the law, several people were seized by police after criticizing the government online, but the charges were dropped.

Citing Tuesday's move to end the special legal order as proof that Orbán's detractors are wrong about him using the pandemic to seize power, government spokesman Zoltán Kovács has called for apologies from U.S. media outlets.

The state of emergency in the country will be formally lifted later this week.