Following the Coronavirus pandemic, Hungarian government is trying to rule by decree during the state of emergency. This draft law will be staying in place indefinitely.

This draft law would ban by-elections and referenda, as well as increase penalties for breaking the quarantine and spreading misinformation. Until further notice, Hungarian government decrees would stay in force, whereas current decrees cannot stay in force more than 15 day without parliamentary approval.

The opposition – including EDP member party in Hungary Új Kezdet – decided to oppose the law in its current form despite a broad consensus that the state of emergency should be prolonged.

Hungarian MP and Új Kezdet president Krisztina Hohn pointed out that “We cannot give a blank cheque to the government.”

Read the article here.