Orban Eyes Legal Umbrella to Fend Off EU Democracy Criticism
- Hungary may cite German top court’s argument, spokesman says
- Constitution change may protect illiberal state in the EU
Viktor Orban.
Photographer: Akos Stiller/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, under attack in the European Union for democratic backsliding, is considering establishing a legal umbrella to defend against what his government says is interference in domestic affairs.
In a public radio interview on Friday, Orban said his administration is embarking on a “broader” constitutional change, without giving specifics. At the heart of the changes may be an attempt to enshrine ideas on national identity in the constitution, which Budapest will argue should be legally protected from the purview of EU courts, a spokesman said.