Hungary withdrawing from International Criminal Court - Free Europe

This news is not surprising, as the government has been discussing it since Donald Trump's inauguration as US president. Last year, the Hungarian government reportedly instructed three of its ministers to explore the possibility and circumstances of withdrawal.

Tuzson informed invited diplomats about Hungary’s exit from the International Criminal Court during a meeting of ambassadors held last week at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

What happens if Hungary leaves the ICC?

According to the report, for the Hungarian government to make such a decision, the authorities must first submit an official withdrawal proposal to the National Assembly. If a majority of lawmakers support it, the government will initiate the withdrawal process. A source familiar with the situation stated that this process could take about a year.

This development is not unexpected, as the term of Hungary’s representative to the ICC, Péter Kovács, ended last year. However, he continues working on one of the cases and will remain in his position until its completion. An anonymous source also indicated that a draft resolution on Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC might soon appear on the National Assembly’s website.

Discussions about leaving the ICC have reportedly been ongoing in Budapest since Trump’s inauguration. According to the report, the Hungarian government had been waiting for Trump’s actions regarding the court. When he announced sanctions against the Hague-based court over its arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, "the Hungarian government saw this as a green light."

Notably, after Trump imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court, governments from dozens of countries worldwide reacted by defending the court.

It is also noteworthy that today, April 2, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to visit Hungary despite the ICC's arrest warrant against him.