Brussels, 12/03/2013
With this reform, the Hungarian government intends to restrict the prerogatives of the Constitutional Court to strengthen its own position. The Constitutional Court has been muzzled. It is an attack on democracy.
Further amendments raise other problems, such as undermining the freedom of the media, the possibility of expelling homeless people from public places, restrictions affecting electoral campaigns, a limitation on religious freedoms, as well as on the free movement of students, etc.
ETUC General Secretary Bernadette Ségol stated: “The purpose is to concentrate powers in the same hands and to silence all criticism. It is anti-democratic and unacceptable. We support the protests of the European Commission and of the Council of Europe. The rule of law, the law of the European Union and the standards of the Council of Europe must be respected.”