Viktor Orban has gained new powers after a vote today (Picture: AP)

Hungarian leader Viktor Orban has won a vote to gain sweeping new powers in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The country’s parliament approved a bill today which allows the government to rule by decree.

It has been criticised by opposition parties and international institutions for failing to give a date when the powers would expire.

Orban’s Fidesz party and other government supporters voted in favour by 137 votes in favor to 53 against. It needed 133 votes to pass.


Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives to attend the plenary session today (Picture: Reuters)

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It also includes measures against spreading false information which have raised concerns they they could be used by the government to muzzle independent media.



Csaba Domotor, a deputy minister in Orban’s Cabinet Office. said: ‘The extraordinary measures are related to the pandemic, to its prevention, its elimination and the damaging economic consequences.

‘A time limit cannot be declared in this situation because there is no one … who can say how many months of struggle we have to prepare for.’

Opposition lawmakers said they were willing to give the government the requested powers, but only if they were set for a certain period, with the possibility of extensions.

Amnesty International described the development as ‘disturbing’ (Picture: Reuters)

Tamas Harangozo, a lawmaker with the opposition Socialist Party, said: ‘The opposition is united on the issue of giving the government powers which are significantly more extensive than the authority in the Constitution.’

The opposition’s request is that ‘the government accept that it can only do this within time limits.’

The human rights chief at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe also expressed concerns about the new legislation.

Ingibjorg Gisladottir, director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, said: ‘It is clear that states need to act swiftly in order to protect their populations from the Covid-19 pandemic, and I understand that extraordinary measures may be required to do so.

‘However, a state of emergency -wherever it is declared and for whatever reason – must be proportionate to its aim, and only remain in place for as long as absolutely necessary.’

Granting government unlimited powers in Hungary under new #Covid19 law is a disturbing development. This bill creates an indefinite and uncontrolled state of emergency and gives Viktor OrbÃ¡n and his government carte blanche to restrict human rights. — Amnesty International (@amnesty) March 30, 2020

Amnesty International said: ‘Granting government unlimited powers in Hungary under new Covid-19 law is a disturbing development.

‘This bill creates an indefinite and uncontrolled state of emergency and gives Viktor Orbán and his government carte blanche to restrict human rights.’

Hungary declared a state of emergency on March 11 due to the spread of coronavirus, which so far has infected 447 people in Hungary, with 15 deaths.

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