"These conditions were formulated precisely to prevent Roma and poor people from moving to the settlements," Amnesty said in a statement on Friday.

"It was already clear at the time of its adoption that the law on the protection of local identity, submitted by former Public Administration and Regional Development Minister Tibor Navracsics in 2025, and the local government decrees based on it would lead to serious mass violations of rights."

Amnesty has sent its analysis and recommendations to the government and relevant parliamentary committee members, as the only way to resolve the situation leading to mass rights violations is to repeal the relevant constitutional provisions, the law authorising the decrees, and the local government decrees themselves.

In its analysis, available on amnesty.hu, the organisation recommends that if, after the repeal of the law on the protection of local identity, the government or parliament wishes to provide new tools to settlements genuinely affected by overpopulation and/or infrastructure problems, it should prepare the relevant legislation with due regard for the practice of the European Court of Human Rights, and after broad and substantive social and professional consultation.

It also stressed that appropriate guarantees must be built into the framework to ensure far-reaching respect for human rights and to avoid direct and indirect discrimination.

MTI Stock Photo

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881.

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