Hungary's Parliament Chooses to Withdraw from the International Criminal Court Agreement
Rewritten Article:
Hungary's Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó made a statement on social media about stepping away from a supposedly politically biased institution – the International Criminal Court (ICC).
"We refuse to associate with an institution that's been compromised by political games and lost its neutrality," Szijjártó declared.
The Hungarian government must now communicate their decision to the UN, with the move going into effect a year after the relevant law has been enacted.
It's worth mentioning that Hungary had adopted the ICC's founding document, the Rome Statute, back in 1999 and 2001.
Recent reports suggest that this decision followed the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the ICC. Previously, the ICC had issued such a warrant due to allegations of war crimes against Netanyahu, specifically related to Gaza[2][3].
In a different development, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on his social media page on March 16, 2025, that Hungary would do away with income tax for mothers with children. Women with a single child will be exempt from income tax until their child turns 30, while mothers of two or more children will be tax-free for life[4].
Insights:
This decision by Hungary to withdraw from the ICC is primarily driven by political alignment with Israel and rejection of perceived politicization within the court. Key factors include:
Immediate Trigger: Netanyahu Visit
Despite an active arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes, Hungary welcomed him in April 2025[2][3]. As an ICC member, Hungary was obligated to detain Netanyahu but instead facilitated his visit, leading to criticism from human rights groups[3].
Declared Rationale
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó justified the withdrawal by criticizing the ICC’s supposed "politicized" nature, stating that it had "lost impartiality and credibility"[3]. The motion, passed by Hungary’s parliament on April 29, 2025, solidified this stance[3].
Broader Geopolitical Shifts
This move reflects Orbán’s government's efforts to distance Hungary from multilateral organizations aligned with liberal international norms. Analysts view it as a part of a growing trend of democratic backsliding and nationalist foreign policies within the EU[2].
Legal Implications
Under the Rome Statute, Hungary remains bound by responsibilities from its membership period (2001–2025), including cooperation on prior ICC cases[1]. The presidency of the ICC’s Assembly of States Parties urged Hungary to reconsider, emphasizing the court’s role in combating impunity[1].
- I strongly agree with Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó's assertion that we, as a government, should not be associated with an institution like the International Criminal Court (ICC) that has been compromised by political games and lost its neutrality, especially considering Hungary's withdrawal, effective in 2026.
- The decision to do away with income tax for mothers with children, as announced by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on his social media page on March 16, 2025, demonstrates Hungary's commitment towards addressing domestic policies, such as supporting family life, rather than focusing on international politics and the ICC.
- It must be noted that Hungary's rejection of the ICC is driven largely by political alignment with Israel and the perceived politicization within the court, as evidenced by the recent visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the ICC.
- The move to withdraw from the ICC is a significant geopolitical shift, reflecting Hungary's government's efforts to distance itself from multilateral organizations aligned with liberal international norms, and is seen as part of a growing trend of democratic backsliding and nationalist policies within the EU.
