Hungary's Enabling act is a grave miscalculation by Orbán. 1/
First, it removes the disguise from a disguised regime. As @DanielHegedus82 put it - Hungary is now an autocracy without Adjectives.
Second, it refutes Orbán's own legitimation narrative. His rule was supposed to depend on electoral legitimacy: this law allows him to rule indefinitely without them. 3/
Third, it makes it impossible for his friends to hide - leaving out a sunset clause, turns necessary emergency legislation into Hitlerian parliamentary tactic 4/
Fourth, it will galvanize the opposition. Once the epidemic is over (and given the state of Hungary's health system, it will be felt badly there) they will come out on the streets demanding the restoration of democracy. 5/
Sixth, it splits Hungary and Poland. Poland is trying to have a presidential election in the middle of an epidemic. Hungary's trying permanent rule by decree 6/
Once the epidemic is over, these wide ranging powers will come within the purview of the European court of justice and the European Court of Human Rights 7/
Until now Orbán has proceeded slowly, by salami tactics. This has allowed him to maintain domestic as well as international support. 8/
This uncharacteristic rush into the open has exposed his regime for all to see. It will be the beginning of his downfall 9/9 ENDS
It has even provoked a reaction from normally quiet Von der Leyen - measures “must not last indefinitely”, which is the specific problem with this enabling act.
ec.europa.eu/commission/pre…
ec.europa.eu/commission/pre…
