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What’s happening with Hungary’s pandemic power grab?

James Kirchick and
James Kirchick
James Kirchick Former Brookings Expert
Adrianna Pita
Adrianna Pita Office of Communications

April 2, 2020

FILE PHOTO: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives to attend the plenary session of the Parliament ahead of a vote to grant the government special powers to combat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis in Budapest, Hungary, March 30, 2020. MTI Zoltan Mathe/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

This week Hungary’s parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party, granted the prime minister open-ended, broad-reaching emergency powers. Visiting Fellow James Kirchick explains this as the latest step in Hungary’s democratic decline and how the coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating the re-nationalization of politics within the European Union.

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Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo, Chris McKenna, Fred Dews, and Camilo Ramirez for their support.

The Current is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Authors

James Kirchick
James Kirchick Former Brookings Expert
Adrianna Pita Office of Communications
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Foreign Policy

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Europe European Union

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Center on the United States and Europe