The Hungarian Parliament has voted by 137 to 53 to accept the government’s request for the power to rule by decree during the coronavirus emergency. The law contains no time limit. Prime Minister Viktor Orban promised to use the extraordinary powers he has been granted “proportionately and rationally”.

The leader of the opposition Jobbik party, Peter Jakab, said that the law placed the whole of Hungarian democracy in quarantine. Monday’s vote was controversial – more than 100,000 people had signed a petition against the move.

But Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s conservative Fidesz party has a strong majority. The special powers have no time limit and critics say independent journalists could face jail. According to a survey by the pro-government polling agency Nezopont, 90% of the public want the current emergency measures extended and 72% agree that the criminal code should be strengthened.(BBC)…[+]