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5th April 2020

MEMO: Global pandemic as a threat to democracy

Hungary’s Victor Orban is one of the first of those who abuse the fight against the new coronavirus to consolidate his power in the name of saving lives.

On March 30, the Hungarian Parliament approved the government’s extraordinary powers for an indefinite period of time – a step that Human Rights Watch called an authoritarian takeover. Hungary became the first EU Member State to be under the exclusive command of the government. It will take decisions by decrees, thanks to which it can take key measures without the need for parliamentary approval. State of emergency, during which elections and referendums may not be held, will continue until the government itself decides to end it.

Aside from threatening human lives and the economy, the crisis is becoming a backdrop behind which the elements of national populism can be hidden. The same elements we have known before, but today they do not get enough attention from the media or civil society. In combination with influence operations and disinformation activities they create an unstable, explosive mixture that, in the long run, may threaten the structures of Western democracies and the EU.

Hungary’s Victor Orban is one of the first of those who abuse the fight against the new coronavirus to consolidate his power in the name of saving lives. On March 30, the Hungarian Parliament approved the government’s extraordinary powers for an indefinite period of time – a step that Human Rights Watch called an authoritarian takeover. Hungary became the first EU Member State to be under the exclusive command of the government. It will take decisions by decrees, thanks to which it can take key measures without the need of parliamentary approval. State of emergency, during which elections and referendums may not be held, will continue until the government itself decides to end it.

The government’s ordinance regulating free speech is particularly risky. Based on it, anyone who spreads information “jeopardizing public safety” or “instigating chaos and disarray” can be imprisoned. However, a legislative framework defining false or misleading information is missing. In conjunction with the past steps of the Hungarian Government – efforts to limit the independence of the judiciary, restrict civil society and control media – the current situation raises concerns that with this step, Orban gained an effective tool to suppress the opposition.

“It is of utmost importance that emergency measures are not at the expense of our fundamental principles and values as set out in the Treaties,” said Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, in a statement on March 31, without mentioning Hungary specifically. But the subtle rhetoric of the EU diplomacy towards Hungary did not deter Orban from taking authoritative measures in the past.

Extraordinary situations require extraordinary measures. The pandemic has given states a platform to restrict democracy. Like the emergency situation, the decisions should only last for a definite period of time, or under certain conditions, not to jeopardize the further functioning of a democratic society. The system of brakes and counterbalances should limit the possibilities of rigid political actions.


STRATPOL Memos is a project which on a weekly basis provides a short overview of the most important selected moments of Euro-Atlantic security and related areas. Our goal is to provide brief and informative comments with short analysis putting news into a broader context.

Responsible editor Matúš Jevčák.

Author: Peter Dubóczi 

The text has not undergone language revision.

Filed Under: News, STRATPOL Memos Tagged With: COVID-19, democracy, Hungary, Orban, pandemic

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