'A Harrowing Warning' to All as Hungary Hands Far-Right Leader Dictatorial Powers Amid Pandemic

[Celerity]

"We could have a parallel epidemic of authoritarian and repressive measures following close if not on the heels of a health epidemic.

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/30/harrowing-warning-all-hungary-hands-far-right-leader-dictatorial-powers-amid

Human rights groups and activists issued dire warnings about the state of democracy in Hungary—and the rest of the world—after the nation's parliament on Monday approved a sweeping emergency law handing far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orbán dictatorial powers as the European country battles the coronavirus pandemic.

The new law indefinitely suspends elections and parliament, imposes up to five years in prison for anyone who intentionally spreads what the government classifies as misinformation, and gives Orbán the authority to suspend laws by decree as he works to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. The law easily passed Hungary's parliament, which is dominated by Orbán's far-right Fidesz party, by a vote of 137 to 53. "Outrageous—and something we must all take as a harrowing warning," author and environmentalist Naomi Klein tweeted in response to the law, which does not contain a sunset clause.

Link to tweet

Orbán insisted Monday that he "will give back all powers, without exception," when the coronavirus emergency subsides, but human rights groups warned that the prime minister could do incalculable damage with his virtually unlimited authority in the meantime—and may not give it up so easily when the crisis is over. Orbán has already used the COVID-19 pandemic, which has officially infected nearly 500 people in Hungary, to ramp up xenophobic attacks on migrants.

This bill creates an indefinite and uncontrolled state of emergency and give Viktor Orbán and his government carte blanche to restrict human rights," David Vig, Amnesty International's Hungary director, said in a statement Monday. "During his years as prime minister, Viktor Orbán has overseen a rollback of human rights in Hungary, stoking up hostility towards marginalized groups, and attempting to muzzle Hungary's critical voices," added Vig. "Allowing his government to rule by decree is likely to speed this rollback."

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[ibegurpard]

1. I have no doubt the majority of Republicans

Would vote to do the same here. Enough to make it happen? Maybe not... but definitely the majority.

[niyad]

2. KNR. A pubbie wet dream.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

3. Our House must remain healthy!