Panel:

Hannes Swoboda, President of the IIP, former MEP
Peter Krekó, Director, Political Capital Institute Budapest

Moderator:

Stephanie Fenkart, Director of the IIP

Content:

As the COVID-19 virus reached Europe in late February this year and started a worldwide crisis, many countries put harsh measures in place to protect the healthcare system and the society. It seems that some governments and politicians use the crisis to secure their political power and strengthen their rule – the most popular example would be the prime minister of Hungary Viktor Orban. Hungarian democratic backsliding began in 2010 when the Fidesz party and its leader Orban won the elections. Not only did Orban amend the Hungarian constitution to crush independent media and end judicial independence in the country, he also severely restricted civil and political rights of Hungarians. With the new emergency law approved by the Hungarian parliament in March 2020, Viktor Orban was given power to rule by decree – without a set time limit - which further deteriorates the state of democracy in Hungary. Some leaders in the European Union stayed silent about the dangerous developments in one of EU member states. Others are seeking solutions in “gentle” diplomacy to counter the crackdown on democracy in Hungary.

Will there be a stronger response of the European Union to the latest events in Hungary? How long will Orban practice his unlimited power provided by the emergency law and how much will it affect the democratic backsliding of Hungary? This panel discussion will seek to analyze and clarify the latest events in Hungary and find answers to the questions posed above.