Peter Magyar announced the end of the special state of emergency on social media. “Today, after four years, the war-related state of emergency in Hungary ends, and with it the rule by decree introduced by Orbán's government six years ago ends. We are returning to normality,” Magyar wrote on X.
End of the state of emergency in Hungary
The legal system in force on the Danube distinguishes three specific legal states – a state of war, a state of emergency and a state of emergency. Each of them gives the government the ability to issue decrees having the force of law, which significantly expands the powers of the executive branch at the expense of the parliament.
The special legal status was originally announced in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two years later, Viktor Orban's cabinet decided to maintain it, this time citing the armed conflict in Ukraine. Budapest periodically extended these regulations, which was criticized by the opposition.
— The future government will have to change 150-160 laws, argued Magyar. The previous cabinet did not comply with this request and did not extend the validity of the special regulations. Nevertheless, during the first meeting of the newly elected parliament, the MPs adopted a solution thanks to which the regulations issued during the state of emergency gained the status of permanent regulations.
The Parliament maintained, among other things, protective solutions for agricultural producers who suffered from frosts, drought and African swine fever. MEPs also maintained the applicable price limits for fuel and selected products available on the market.
