Hungary moves to withdraw from International Criminal Court
Hungary’s Parliament has approved a bill initiating the country’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government denouncing the institution as politically biased. The legislation passed with 134 votes in favour and 37 against.
The move comes shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Hungary, despite the ICC having issued an arrest warrant for him. Hungary’s defiance of the warrant has drawn international attention. Leaders of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute expressed concern about Hungary’s decision, describing it as a troubling step away from international justice norms.
The ICC, founded over two decades ago, is tasked with prosecuting individuals for crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Orbán recently accused the Court of abandoning its neutral judicial mandate, claiming it now functions as a political tool used against unfavoured governments.
Although Hungary ratified the Rome Statute in 2001, the treaty was never transposed into national law. The Orbán administration maintains that international criminal justice mechanisms should not be used to serve political agendas, marking this legislative move as part of a broader critique of global institutions perceived as ideologically driven.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
