Hungary’s government has decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás told state news agency MTI on Thursday.
Gulyás said that the government will initiate the withdrawal procedure on Thursday.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government announced the move shortly after Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, sought under an ICC arrest warrant, arrived in Hungary for a state visit.
The two leaders met today in Budapest, and will hold a joint press conference later.
The ICC used to be “a respectable initiative,” before it became a political body, Gulyás told MTI, adding that the warrants against Netanyahu is the saddest example of this. The ICC has “deviated from its original purpose” he added.
The ICC prosecutor issued an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in November 2024. Orbán invited him to Hungary that same day in response to the decision, MTI added.
Preparations for withdrawal
24.hu reported last July that shortly after the request was made by the ICC for an arrest warrant. Gulyás, Justice Minister Bence Tuzson, and Minister for European Union Affairs János Bóka were tasked with preparing a memorandum to the Prime Minister on the possible consequences of Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC.
Gulyás explained to MTI that, unlike some ICC member states, Hungary’s parliament never proclaimed the court’s statute, so it is not part of domestic law. On this basis, it would not be possible under the law to arrest anyone, he added.
In response to the news, Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar thanked Hungary for its “clear and strong moral stance alongside Israel and the principles of justice and sovereignty.”
He added that he had “dealt with this matter extensively” with his Hungarian counterpart, FM Péter Szijjártó.
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