One Big Thing: Has Hungary Gone too Far in the Fight Against Coronavirus?

What is it?

• On March 30, Hungary’s parliament voted to give nearly unlimited emergency powers to President Viktor Orban – a notoriously hardline authoritarian who still holds the emergency powers introduced in 2016 to deal with the migrant crisis.
• The new law has no set end date, suspends the parliament indefinitely and allows the government to jail citizens for five years for spreading fake news and eight years for leaving quarantine. This has sparked concern whether Orban will allow Hungary to return to democratic norms after the coronavirus pandemic is over.

Why is it important?

• Several experts have pointed out that giving Orban the power to rule indefinitely with almost no limits will functionally suspend the democratic process in Hungary, causing for many to question whether Hungary’s law is in fact compatible with European Union membership.

What can you do?

• Learn more about the situation in Hungary from Human Rights Watch and keep up with other leaders accusing of using the COVID-19 outbreak to consolidate power.
• Go to the WHTT HUB to comment on what you think this means to democratic norms in Hungary, Europe and elsewhere.