Fourth Amendment Overrides Constitutional Court Rulings

On March 11, 2013, parliament adopted the Fourth Amendment to the Fundamental Law in a single day, in response to multiple Constitutional Court rulings striking down Fidesz legislation. The amendment 'constitutionalized' several laws previously ruled unconstitutional — effectively reversing the Court's decisions by embedding the invalidated policies in the constitution itself. It also restricted the Court's ability to review any constitutional provision passed since 2011. The Venice Commission called this 'a threat to the rule of law' and the EU Commission expressed 'serious concern.'