Hungary’s parliament recently voted with a two-thirds majority to give the nation’s right-wing government new powers to rule by decree with no time limit. This has led to widespread accusations that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party are attempting to turn the nation into the world’s first coronavirus autocracy. 

A number of bodies including the United Nations, the Council of Europe and Amnesty International Hungary were quick to criticize the new legislation. In a joint statement, Hungarian NGOs recently responded, “We need strong rule of law safeguards and proportional and necessary emergency measures, not unlimited government rule by decree.” 

Meanwhile, media watchdogs, including Reporters Without Borders, have voiced concerns about how new provisions against coronavirus disinformation could impact journalists in their attempts to report on Covid-19.

Under the new legislation, anyone spreading “false” or “distorted” information that “alarms” the public or undermines its “successful protection” will face up to five years in prison.