Coronavirus: Parlt’s Ruling Majority Extends Special Legal Order

MTI-Hungary Today 2021.02.22.

Parliament on Monday passed a bill on extending the special legal order in connection with measures to protect the country against the coronavirus pandemic, thus authorising the government to extend related decrees by 90 days.

The law was passed with 133 votes in favour, 55 against, with one abstention.

Justice Minister Judit Varga, in her reasoning attached to the bill, said the approval by lawmakers was “a political recognition of the government’s efforts so far to stop the epidemic”.

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Under the new law, interim elections or referendums cannot be held while the special legal order is in force. Votes thus postponed shall be scheduled within 15 days of the special legal order’s termination.

The new law also stipulates that the government should provide regular information about its pandemic-related measures to parliament, or to the house speaker and group leaders when the assembly is not in session.

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The law will take effect on the day of its publication for 90 days.

Featured photo illustration via Viktor Orbán’s Facebook page