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Six years of Orbán, 600 laws and measures: EU "must show it is serious" about democracy and fundamental rights in Hungary

Country/Region

01 November 2016

International human rights organisation FIDH has published a new report detailing the Hungarian government's attacks on democratic standards and fundamental rights and calling for the EU to "act and prove its commitment to defending its own founding values and the obligations that derive from EU membership by promptly addressing the situation through appropriate means and reacting to documented abuse and a systemic threat to these values in Hungary."

The report is made up of three substantial sections, examining:

• Challenges to the rule of law: undermining democratic checks and balances
• Challenges to the rule of law: violations of the rights of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees
• The Hungarian situation in the light of international standards on the rule of law

See: Hungary: Democracy under Threat: Six Years of Attacks against the Rule of Law (link to pdf)

And: Hungary: New report denounces six years of attacks against the rule of law and calls for EU reaction (FIDH, link)

"Human rights and the rule of law in Hungary have been under sustained attack since Prime Minister Viktor Orbán took power in 2010, reveals FIDH in a new report released today. FIDH urges the government to halt this assault and calls for a strong and prompt reaction by the European Union, up to the activation of Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), which could lead to the suspension of Hungary’s rights under the Treaties.

The 84-page report explains how the new Constitution - the Fundamental Law - and over 600 laws and measures adopted since 2010 have had an adverse impact on human rights across sectors and negatively affected the separation of powers, an essential element of democracy and the rule of law. All counter-powers, from the judiciary and the legislative power to media and civil society have been systematically weakened or brought under control of the executive. What should serve, in a democratic State, as checks and balances to ensure democratic oversight and accountability for government’s actions has been undermined in Hungary to an extent that they can no longer safeguard democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Most laws are pushed through via fast-track procedures, which bypass democratic rules and limit parliamentary and public debate and stakeholder participation."