With its 2/3 majority, Fidesz passed the Coronavirus Act in the Hungarian Parliament, granting the government unprecedented emergency powers and the most expansive onessince the fall of communism. The new law allows the government to rule by decree for an indefinite period of time. It also introduces a vaguely worded new paragraph to the already existing offence of scaremongering in the Criminal Code.

The coronavirus outbreak has brought pressure on many governments and demands swift and careful action to prevent any further spread of the virus. We understand that necessary measures require temporary & limited restrictions on some of the fundamental rights and freedoms in the name of the collective, but restrictions, should always be proportionate and necessary. A standard which the Hungarian Coronavirus Act manifestly fails to meet. A completely unrestricted mandate to rule by decree is never proportionate nor democratic. No government should get unrestricted power to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The adopted new law also introduces prison sentences of up to five years for people thought to be spreading false information that alarms the public or impedes government efforts to protect people. The government will also be allowed to suspend the application of certain laws by decree if necessary and proportional to protect citizens’ health, life, property, rights, and to secure the stability of the economy in connection with the pandemic. Furthermore, no local or national elections or referendums can be held until the end of the state of emergency. These are often uncertain measures, especially for an indefinite period of time which can easily lead to absolute power of Orbán.

We are also surprised that in merely a few hours later, the President of Hungary signed the act into effect, underlining in his statement that the new law is in line with the Fundamental law and does not violate international agreements.

We, young socialists and social democrats, all over the world and in Europe, are alarmed how Orbán is further undermining the democratic principles in Hungary. We, in IUSY and in YES support all necessary measures to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, but we also stand on the side of our member organisation, Societas Hungary and and all other progressive forces fighting against the erosion of democracy while they continue to fight to protect the fundamental rights of the Hungarian people and Hungarian democracy in these difficult times.