Hungary’s Viktor Orban declares state of emergency, citing the Ukraine war to expand his power.

Fresh from an election victory last month, Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary has declared a “state of emergency” in the country, using the war in Ukraine as a pretext to further entrench his power.

Before the announcement on Tuesday, Mr. Orban, a right-wing populist with ties to Russia’s president, had cited the conflict in Ukraine as a justification for the expanded executive emergency powers, which allow him to bypass Hungary’s legislative process and rule by decree.

The emergency powers, he said, would enable him to respond swiftly to pressing challenges spurred by the war such as ensuring the safety of Hungarians and confronting economic hurdles. European Union sanctions against Russia had disrupted the Hungarian economy, he said, causing prices to rise and endangering the country’s energy supplies.

“This war poses a constant threat to Hungary,” Mr. Orban said Tuesday on Facebook. Read more

@nytimes