Hungary's Parliament has overwhelmingly voted for the nation to retain its membership of the International Criminal Court (ICC), effectively reversing a decision made by the previous government led by Viktor Orbán. The vote, which took place on Wednesday, ensures that Hungary will not become the only European Union member state to withdraw recognition of the global tribunal's jurisdiction.
The move comes shortly after the election victory of Péter Magyar, who had explicitly vowed to reverse the withdrawal from the court before it could take effect. The previous administration's decision to leave the ICC had drawn international criticism and raised questions about Hungary's commitment to international justice and human rights.
The International Criminal Court, established by the Rome Statute, is a permanent international judicial body that investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression. Its aim is to hold perpetrators of the most serious international crimes accountable and to help prevent these crimes from happening again.
Hungary's decision to remain a member strengthens the court's universality and the broader framework of international law. Had the withdrawal proceeded, it would have isolated Hungary from its EU partners on a critical matter of international justice and potentially complicated its diplomatic relations within the bloc and beyond.
The reversal signals a shift in Hungary's foreign policy direction under the new leadership, indicating a potential desire to align more closely with mainstream European positions on international legal institutions. This development is likely to be welcomed by other EU member states and international human rights organisations.