Hungary votes to resign ICC
(MENAFN) Hungary’s parliament has voted to begin the process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), aligning with Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s stance that the institution is politically biased and lacks credibility.
The legislation passed on Tuesday with 134 votes in favor, 37 opposed, and seven abstentions. This vote formalizes a decision initially made in April when lawmakers agreed in principle to exit the court.
According to the bill published by the National Assembly, Hungary “firmly rejects the use of international organizations – especially criminal courts – as tools for political agendas.”
Hungary became a member of the ICC after signing the Rome Statute in 1999 and ratifying it in 2001. However, Orban has argued that Hungary’s involvement was never fully committed.
The decision follows Orban’s announcement of the withdrawal plan during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The ICC recently issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza, along with three Hamas leaders. Orban criticized the ICC as a “political tribunal” and reassured Netanyahu that its decisions would carry no weight in Hungary. Netanyahu praised Hungary for its “principled” and “bold” opposition to what he described as a corrupt institution.
The ICC is recognized by 123 countries but lacks enforcement power, relying on its members to arrest and hand over suspects. Several major nations, including the US, Russia, China, and Israel, are not parties to the Rome Statute.
In February, former US President Donald Trump’s administration imposed sanctions on the ICC and its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, over the Netanyahu case. More recently, Khan stepped aside temporarily amid a UN investigation into alleged sexual misconduct.
In 2023, the court also issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of illegally deporting children from conflict zones. Russia has dismissed the charges as baseless, asserting that the children were removed for their safety and can return to their families.
According to the Rome Statute, Hungary must now notify the UN secretary-general of its intention to leave the ICC, with the withdrawal becoming effective one year after the notice is submitted.
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