Orban, who won a fourth consecutive term in the April 3 election, has used the special legal system in the past, once due to migration and later during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Announcing the new “state of danger” on Tuesday, Orban said the war in Ukraine posed “a constant threat to Hungary” that “endangered our physical security and threatened the energy and financial security of our economy and our families. “
He said a “state of war danger” would come into force to allow the government to “respond immediately and protect Hungary and Hungarian families by any means possible”.
The move came after Orban’s ruling party passed a constitutional amendment to allow states of emergency to be declared when wars or humanitarian disasters occur in neighboring countries.
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It gives the Orban government broad powers to enact laws by decree without parliamentary oversight, and allows for the temporary suspension and diversion of existing laws.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and members of the new Hungarian government are sworn in
/ AFP via Getty Images
He had implemented similar measures in response to the Covid pandemic by cries of critics and legal observers, who argued that it was eroding democratic norms.
This special legal system was due to expire on 1 June.
The ruling Fidesz party won a fourth consecutive election victory on April 3, giving Orban, the oldest leader in the European Union, an additional four-year term.