Hungary strikes down another Orban policy with vote to stay in ICC

Hungary’s Parliament Votes to Remain in ICC, Reversing Orbán-Era Withdrawal

Hungary’s parliament voted on Wednesday to remain a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), officially cancelling the withdrawal process initiated by the previous government under Viktor Orbán. The vote, which passed 133 to 37 with five abstentions, marks a significant policy shift under new Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who had pledged to reverse the exit before it took effect on June 2.

The decision reverses a move announced in April 2025, when Orbán declared Hungary would leave the ICC, calling the tribunal a “political court.” That announcement came during a state visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close Orbán ally who is subject to an ICC arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Hungary’s withdrawal had been set to take effect on June 2, 2026, which would have made it the only EU member state not to recognize the court’s jurisdiction.

Magyar, who won a landslide electoral victory in April, fast-tracked the repeal legislation. According to the bill’s text, maintaining Hungary’s participation in the ICC is “essential” to ensure that those who commit the most serious international crimes are held accountable before an international judicial forum. The legislation now requires the signature of President Tamás Sulyok, an Orbán appointee, to become law.

The ICC’s oversight body, the Assembly of States Parties, welcomed Hungary’s decision, describing it as “important” and “essential to our shared objective of ensuring accountability for the gravest crimes, strengthening the international legal order, and supporting multilateral institutions.” The court had previously found that Hungary failed to comply with its legal obligation to arrest Netanyahu when he visited Budapest in 2025.

The vote is a setback for the previous government’s stance, which argued that the ICC had become politicized. Orbán’s administration had also refused to recognize the ICC’s arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, issued in 2023 over allegations of illegally deporting Ukrainian children. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Moscow does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction.

The decision also comes amid broader challenges for the ICC. According to reports, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on 11 ICC officials since his return to power, leading to difficulties such as cancelled credit cards and frozen online accounts for judges and prosecutors. One judge described the measures as a “direct and flagrant attack” on the court.

Magyar has indicated that Hungary remains committed to executing ICC warrants, including against Netanyahu, who has already accepted an invitation to visit Hungary later this year. The prime minister had earlier stated that if a person wanted by the ICC enters Hungarian territory, “that person must be taken into custody.”

Analysts view the vote as part of a broader realignment under Magyar’s government, which has signaled a more pro-EU stance and a departure from Orbán’s confrontational approach to international institutions. The legislation is now pending presidential approval, and its implementation will be closely watched by international observers.