Parliament Grants Orbán Indefinite Emergency Powers by Decree

On March 30, 2020, Hungary's parliament passed the COVID Authorization Act granting the government authority to rule by decree for an indefinite period, suspend or postpone elections, and impose sentences of up to 5 years for spreading 'false information' about the pandemic. The law passed with Fidesz's supermajority against opposition objections. The Venice Commission, European Commission, and 13 EU heads of state issued warnings. Critics drew parallels to the 1933 German 'Enabling Act.' Orbán used emergency powers to pass unrelated legislation including restricting gender recognition.