World Justice: Hungary wants to leave an international criminal court

Hungary wants to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC). This was announced by the Hungarian Chancellery Minister Gergely Gulyas to the MTI state news agency. The announcement was made shortly after the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Hungary.

As Gulyas said, Hungary’s government wanted to start the exit procedure on Thursday. He added the country according to its own constitution and international law. The basic contract of the ICC provides that an exit comes into force one year after the written termination. The court did not react directly to the announcement.

Orban had pronounced in disregard for the court invitation

He had already made it clear that Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban does not feel committed to the specifications for a member of the ISCHH after the international arrest warrant against Netanyahu was issued. Orban then demonstratively expressed an invitation to his allies.

Hungary would have to have him arrested as one of the 125 contracting states of the court. The basic contract, the so -called Roman statute, obliges the Member States to carry out orders from the court. You have to execute arrest warrants if there is a sought -after in your territory.

Despite leaving, obligations remain

With an exit from the Criminal Court, Hungary does not freed up from the obligation to enforce the arrest warrant against Netanyahu. A resignation from the basic contract of the court does not come into force until one year after receipt of the written declaration of resignation. But even afterwards there are the obligations that a contracting state had taken over during its membership. So Hungary must therefore continue to work with the court in investigations if they had started before leaving.

However, the consequences for Hungary are likely to be manageable: If a state does not meet its contractual obligation, the court can submit the case to the Conference of the Conference. And this can then decide against further measures against this state. But that will hardly have big consequences. For the court, on the other hand, a lot is at stake. If his orders are disregarded, this undermines the authority of the court.

First trip to Netanyahus to Europe since arrest warrant

Hungary was only given a few hours after Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu had arrived for a multi -day visit to Budapest. The Hungarian Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky, who received him at the airport, confirmed his arrival. It is Netanyahus’ first trip to Europe since the ICC last November due to the procedure in the Gaza War imposed an arrest warrant against him. His return journey is planned on Sunday.

According to Israeli media reports, Netanyahu wanted to meet the Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok on Thursday. Contrary to the customs, details about the visit were not previously announced. Even on request, the press office of the Hungarian Prime Minister did not comment on this. The delicate character of the visit in view of the arrest warrant against Netanyahu is obvious.

Two politicians, a common pattern

Orban has long maintained good relationships with Netanyahu. Both politicians share similar opinions about the most unlimited government power without too hindrance. And both consider an independent judiciary, an open society and free, critically reporting media as obstacles to their political ambitions.

Orban supports the procedure of the Netanyahus government without reservation in the Gaza War. As a member of the European Union, Hungary has repeatedly blocked resolutions of the EU, which spoke out in the Gaza Strip for gun rest and more consideration for the Palestinian civilian population. Because of the violations of basic rule of law, the EU has also withdrawn or frozen part of European funding for Hungary.