Hungary’s parliament on Tuesday approved ending an emergency status that gave Prime Minister Viktor Orban sweeping powers to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, but passed a new law that drew fresh criticism over the country’s democracy.
Parliament voted unanimously to end the “state of danger” that has allowed the right-wing leader to rule by decree since March. The original coronavirus protection act, approved on March 30, didn’t have an end date and opponents saw it as an attempt by Mr Orban to extend his control over the eastern European country.
The emergency status is due to end at midnight on Wednesday night.
Critics have said the sweeping measures created a precedent for a future power grab by the anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim prime minister to limit freedoms.
However, government officials have chided opponents of the emergency powers, saying that Hungarians were in “hysteria” and demanding an apology for being attacked.
“Those who cried dictatorship at home and abroad can now extend their apologies,” Mr Orban said on Facebook after the vote on Tuesday.
However, a new bill also approved that evening raised more questions of whether Hungary is moving away from democratic rule.
The 246-page law created an additional type of emergency, for health, enabling the government to rule by decree without consent of Parliament. The legislation will also make it easier for the Cabinet to restrict rights during a state of emergency.
The EU is currently investigating Hungary for violating rule-of-law norms and leaders in the union have repeatedly raised concerns about Mr Orban’s government. A group of 13 member states expressed "deep concern" over the extraordinary powers in March, and feared they may threaten "democracy and fundamental rights".
Hungary has been a member of the bloc since 2004 but its government has drawn criticism for its lack of solidarity with other European countries and its increasingly populist and anti-immigrant rhetoric.
The lifting of the state of emergency coincides with the nation’s easing of coronavirus restrictions.
In Hungary, 4,078 people have contracted Covid-19 and 565 people have died from it, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University tracker. It is a much lower number than many EU nations, especially in Western Europe.
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The Intruder
Director: Deon Taylor
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One star
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
US PGA Championship in numbers
1 Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.
2 To date, the only two players to win the PGA Championship after winning the week before are Rory McIlroy (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and Tiger Woods (2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational). Hideki Matsuyama or Chris Stroud could have made it three.
3 Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.
4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.
5 In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.
6 For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.
7 Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.
8 Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.
9 Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.
10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.
11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.
12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.
13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.
14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.
15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.
16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.
17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.
18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
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Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
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If you go...
Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
