Hungary has taken a significant step toward withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), a move that could have broad geopolitical implications and marks a departure from its longstanding support for international legal institutions. On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó presented a bill to the National Assembly proposing Hungary’s formal withdrawal from the ICC, a court he referred to as “a political court.”
Hungary had been an early supporter of the ICC, signing the Rome Statute in 1999 and ratifying it in 2001. However, Szijjártó pointed out that the treaty establishing the court was never fully integrated into Hungarian domestic law, suggesting a long-standing ambivalence about its authority.
The proposal for withdrawal comes shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Budapest earlier this month. Netanyahu’s visit was notable for being his first to a European nation since the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes in Gaza. Hungary, by extending this diplomatic gesture and now moving to sever ties with the court, appears to be aligning itself more explicitly with Israel’s criticisms of the ICC.
Netanyahu has long condemned the ICC, particularly its investigations into Israeli military actions in the Palestinian territories. Hungary’s decision to echo this criticism could signal a shift in how some European countries engage with global justice mechanisms.
If passed by parliament, Hungary’s withdrawal would be formally communicated to the United Nations Secretary-General. The exit would take effect one year after the notification, in line with the Rome Statute’s provisions.
Critics argue that Hungary’s move undermines international efforts to hold individuals accountable for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. Human rights organizations have warned that such withdrawals could embolden others with questionable human rights records to follow suit.
Hungary would become the first European Union member state to leave the ICC, setting a precedent that could create tensions within the EU, where most member states continue to support the court’s mission.
The final decision rests with the Hungarian parliament, but the bill’s submission marks a turning point in the country’s stance on international criminal justice.
