Helsinki File: COVID-19 and the state of danger

Amendments introduced as of 18 June by the so-called Transitional Act provide the Government excessive powers that can be applied with a reference to an epidemic, with significantly weakened constitutional safeguards. Other provisions for example on asylum, the powers of the military forces, and data protection also give rise to concerns, NGOs say.

Our briefing note provides an overview of the new legal framework for assuming state control over private companies, created step-by-step by under the state of danger.

The explanatory note provides details of the proposed new framework concerning the state of danger and the state of medical emergency; compares the scope of decrees the Government may issue during a future state of danger, a future state of medical emergency, and while the Authorization Act remains in force; and demonstrates how the decision to lift the current state of danger will remain at the discretion of the Government.

Information note by the Hungarian Helsinki Committee on the rules applicable as of 1 June 2020

Rapid analysis of the Bill on Terminating the State of Danger (T/10747) & the Bill on Transitional Provisions related to the Termination of the State of Danger (T/10748) Shortly before midnight on 26 May, Hungarian … Read more

During the coronavirus epidemic, health care workers  have to deal with a number of legal issues that they have not yet dealt with. We began to receive questions from doctors and it soon turned out … Read more

Information update

The Hungarian Helsinki Committee would like to help those who are in need with its 30 years of legal expertise and experience even during these hard times caused by the COVID-19:   we explain new … Read more

On 31 March 2020, the Hungarian Government issued a decree that overrode certain provisions of the Hungarian Code of Criminal Procedure with a view to state of danger declared by the Government due to the … Read more

The authorities expelled an Iranian pharmacist student from Hungary as a result of a politically motivated show trial, even though she did not commit any violation of law. She is one of those Iranian students … Read more

Information update

The High Court of Budapest (Fővárosi Törvényszék) rejected the appeal of an Iranian pharmacist student in her fourth academic year. We are referring to her under the fictitious name Zara. She asked the Court to … Read more

  The Hungarian Helsinki Committee strongly recommends that everyone who is able to stay home should stay home! This is exactly what we are also doing, because this is how responsible citizens act now. Cooperating … Read more

The Authorization Act allows the Government to introduce significant restrictions, practically without any time limit, without any debate in the Parliament, and without any guarantee for the swift and effective constitutional review.

The Hungarian Parliament adopted the so-called”Authorization Act”,  allowing indefinite government rule by decree. The role of free media and a strong civil society is now more vital than ever to ensure government accountability. Fully aware … Read more

  We, at the Hungarian Helsinki Committee believe that the best thing one can do now is to stay home, if possible. We also do so, as we think this is the socially responsible behaviour … Read more

Assessment of the proposed law to extend the state of emergency and its constitutional preconditions A carte blanche mandate for the Hungarian government with no sunset clause is not the panacea to the emergency caused by … Read more

Are you a foreign citizen having trouble returning to Hungary from abroad now? Here’s some advice. The Hungarian government’s confusing communication about who are and who are not allowed to enter Hungary now as borders … Read more