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Hungary

https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/

May 2025

Draft ‘transparency’ bill could tighten rules for civil society organizations
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On 27 May, Hungary’s Justice Committee approved the ‘On the Transparency of Public Life’ bill, proposed by the ruling Fidesz party. The bill would empower the Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO) to investigate and blacklist organizations receiving foreign-sourced funds without prior government approval, including EU grants deemed a threat to national sovereignty. Blacklisted groups would face restrictions on donations and be required to prove domestic funding sources. International human rights groups condemned it for threatening civil society, press freedom, and private organizations. The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights urged lawmakers to amend or reject the bill, citing violations of legality, necessity, and proportionality principles. The bill sparked mass protests, and though initially expected to pass in mid-June, the vote was postponed until after the summer due to internal party debate.

Sources: Deutsche WelleCivil Rights DefendersPolitico, France 24The Guardian, Euronews (1), Europa FM, Index, Reuters, Council of Europe, Euronews (2)

Parliament approves bill to formally withdraw from International Criminal Court

On 20 May, the Parliament passed a bill introduced by Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén to formally withdraw the country from the International Criminal Court (ICC), with the withdrawal set to take effect on 2 June 2026. Hungary remains legally bound by its obligations under the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, until then. This parliamentary decision confirmed the earlier announcement from Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s office made in April, coinciding with the state visit of Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu to Budapest, who is presently under an ICC arrest warrant. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó criticized the ICC as being politically motivated, stating that Hungary no longer wishes to be part of it. Once finalized, Hungary will be the only European Union member state outside the ICC. The Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute expressed concern that the decision undermines the rule of law and global efforts to combat impunity.

Sources: Hungarian Official GazetteInternational Criminal CourtMagyar NemzetEuronews, The Budapest TimesTelex (1), Telex (2), Human Rights Watch

April 2025

Parliament passes constitutional amendment restricting LGBTQIA+ rights and assembly

On 14 April, the Hungarian Parliament adopted the fifteenth constitutional amendment to the Fundamental Law, proposed by the ruling Fidesz party. It constitutionalizes the March 2025 law banning Pride and similar LGBTQIA+ events—further restricting freedom of assembly—and other matters. It also defines gender as binary and based on sex at birth, drawing strong criticism for erasing transgender identities and undermining LGBTQIA+ rights. Additionally, the amendment codifies the notion that children’s rights to proper physical, mental, and moral development take precedence over all other fundamental rights, except the right to life. Among other unrelated changes,  the amendment also permits the suspension of Hungarian citizenship for up to ten years for dual nationals from non-European Economic Area countries if deemed a threat to public order, security, or national interests. The amendment was met with protests before and after the vote. President Tamás Sulyok promulgated the amendment the same day. 

Sources: Hungarian Official Gazette, Magyar Helsinki Bizottsag, Euronews, Human Rights Watch, Council of Europe, International IDEA 

March 2025

New legislation bans Pride and similar LGBTQIA+ events

On 18 March, the Parliament passed a bill proposed by the ruling Fidesz party, which bans Pride events and similar LGBTQIA+ gatherings and imposes fines of up to EUR 500 for publicly supporting LGBTQIA+ events and rights. It also authorizes the use of facial recognition technology to identify participants. The legislation, which was passed through a fast-tracked process, was later signed into law by President Tamás Sulyok. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party justified the measure as a means to protect children's rights, referencing a section of the Child Protection Act in the amendment. During the vote, opposition MPs staged a protest in Parliament using colorful smoke bombs. Since then, thousands have protested against the law, while Pride organizers have vowed to go ahead with the planned parade on 28 June. 

Sources: Human Rights Watch, British Broadcasting Company, Telex, Euractiv 

February 2024

Child abuse pardoning decision triggers public outcry and resignations

A news site revelation that President Katalin Novák pardoned a man convicted of covering up sexual abuse in a children’s home (in a decision countersigned by Justice Minister Judit Varga) unleashed unprecedented political pressure on the ruling elite, known for its traditional family-oriented politics. The scandal triggered concerns regarding the transparency and ethical considerations involved in pardon decisions and their potential impact on depriving victims of due justice. Investigative journalists reported that Zoltán Balog, the leader of the Hungarian Reformed Church, advisor and mentor to President Novák, and former Fidesz MP and minister in Orbán’s government, influenced this presidential pardon. Following pressure from the opposition and public outcry (including widespread protests), Novák and Varga resigned on 10 February. Novák made history as the country's first female president, while Varga was among the two women in Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's male-dominated cabinet. On 26 February, the parliament elected the ruling coalition Fidesz-KNDP's candidate Tamás Sulyok, former chief of the Constitutional Court, as the new president.

Sources: 444.hu, Index, Reuters (1), Reuters (2), Daily News Hungary, BBC, Balkan Insight, Hungarian Government, Associated Press, VSquare

See all event reports for this country

Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2024

Chevron
Representation
82/173
Rights
56/173
Rule of Law
67/173
Participation
126/173

Basic Information

Chevron
Population Tooltip
9 592 186
System of government
Parliamentary system
Head of government
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (since 2010)
Head of government party
Fidesz
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
Mixed Member Proportional System
Women in lower or single chamber
15.2%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2022
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
2.40
Head of state
President Tamás Sulyok
Selection process for head of state
Indirect election (assembly)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
02/11/2021
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
49.06%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
No Action
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 4 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 7 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 12 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Signatory
Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
in
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

Representation neutral Representation
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Representation neutral Rule of law
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Representation neutral Participation
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Global State of Democracy Indices

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Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
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/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

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