Hungary's PM Orbán Hails “Irreversible” Changes

  • 12 Mar 2013 8:00 AM
Hungary's PM Orbán Hails “Irreversible” Changes
Parliament’s governing majority approved the fourth amendment to the Basic Law since it entered into effect 14 months ago, comprising 22 provisions that have together renewed fears of a decline of Hungary’s democratic institutions, due to the removal of checks and balances to the government’s power.

The vote went ahead despite calls for restraint from the EU, the US and international institutions, and street protests that continued into the night.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told a morning meeting of Fidesz and Christian Democrat MPs that approval of the changes would create an “irreversible” situation in which Parliament’s role in protecting the constitution supersedes that of the Constitutional Court.

As the House voted to reinstate in the Basic Law several measures that had been struck down by the Constitutional Court, the Socialist, Democratic Coalition and Dialogue for Hungary MPs boycotted the voting procedure.

Source: Hungary Around the Clock

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