Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared a new state of emergency in the country on Tuesday due to the crisis caused by the conflict in neighboring Ukraine.
After the latest government was sworn in, the Hungarian parliament passed with a two-thirds majority a constitutional amendment which added conflict in a neighboring country to the list of reasons for declaring a state of emergency.
On the same day, Hungarian President Katalin Novák countersigned the amendment and shortly afterwards, Orbán posted a video on his Facebook page declaring the war emergency.
“The government sworn in today has immediately began its work. We wasted no time because there is a war going on in our neighborhood,” Orbán said. “This war constitutes a permanent danger to Hungary, hazarding our physical security and endangering the energy supply and material safety of the economy and of families,” he added.
“We can see that the war and sanctions from Brussels have led to disorder and drastic price increases. The world is on the brink of an economic crisis,” he warned, adding that “Hungary must stay out of this war, and it must defend the material safety of families. This requires maneuvering room and the ability to act. Using its right provided by the constitution, the government declares a war emergency as of midnight.”
Hungary first introduced a state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic in March 15, which was extended several times and will expire on May 31.
Orbán said he will announce on Wednesday the first decisions of his new government pertaining to the state of war emergency.
