MWE Correspondent
Hungarian lawmakers have approved legislation to begin the process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), the first such step taken by a European Union member state.
The vote—held in the Hungarian National Assembly—ended with 134 in favor and 37 opposed. The bill now clears the path for the government to notify the United Nations, a requirement under the Rome Statute which governs the court’s framework. Hungary’s departure would become official one year after notification.
The decision coincided with a visit to Budapest by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently facing an arrest warrant issued by the ICC over alleged war crimes during the Gaza conflict.
Despite being legally obligated as a state party to the ICC, Hungary did not arrest Netanyahu during his visit—a move that has already triggered non-compliance proceedings at The Hague.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, speaking alongside Netanyahu at a joint press conference, defended the decision by sharply criticizing the ICC’s direction in recent years.
“The court was established to serve global justice. Today, it serves politics,” Orbán said. “We are reclaiming our legal sovereignty.”
Orbán has long positioned himself as a challenger to international institutions and a critic of what he calls foreign interference in national affairs.
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His administration has also been at odds with the European Union over issues ranging from judicial independence to press freedom.
Critics of the withdrawal—including global watchdogs such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International—warn that Hungary’s exit may set a troubling precedent, weakening international accountability mechanisms and emboldening other states to evade scrutiny for human rights violations.
Under Article 127 of the Rome Statute, any state can withdraw from the ICC, but it remains bound to cooperate in proceedings already underway before its departure takes effect.
The ICC’s action against Netanyahu stems from the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where both Israeli forces and Hamas militants are accused of committing atrocities. The court has stated it is acting independently and based on international law.
As of 2025, over 120 countries remain party to the ICC. Notably, powerful nations such as the United States, Russia, China, and India are not members.
Hungary’s move—if finalized—could have significant diplomatic consequences. Legal scholars argue it may put further strain on Budapest’s already fraught relationship with the EU and undermine trust in international law as a whole.
