Viktor Orban, masked, at a previous EU summit. Under his leadership, Fidesz has embarked on a decade-long effort to chafe at democratic norms, such as judicial independence, minority rights, and freedom of expression and association (Photo: Council of the European Union)

Are Orban's Covid powers now the 'new normal' in Hungary?

Rule of Law

Opinion

by Sanjay Sethi and Emese Pásztor, New York/Prague,

As the world continues to seek productive ways to provide assistance to the beleaguered citizens of Ukraine, the Hungarian government is now using the humanitarian crisis to further its own authoritarian ambitions.

On 3 May 3, 2022, Hungary's minister of justice submitted the 10th amendment of Hungary's Constitution (also known as the Fundamental Law) to parliament with one crucial change: a new

To read this story, log in or subscribe

Enjoy access to all articles and 25 years of archives, comment and gift articles. Become a member for as low as €1,75 per week.

Already a member? Login

Rule of Law Opinion

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author’s, not those of EUobserver

Author Bio

Sanjay Sethi JD is a human rights lawyer and the co-executive director of Artistic Freedom Initiative, a legal advocacy non-profit dedicated to promoting and defending the right to artistic expression.

Emese Pásztor LL.M is an attorney specialising in strategic litigation in the defence of political rights. She is the head of the Political Freedoms Project at the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union and a lecturer at the Constitutional Law Department of ELTE University in Budapest, Hungary.