World101 from the Council on Foreign Relations By World 101
Explore the principles that underpin democracy and the countries in which they are under threat.
In March 2020, the Hungarian parliament delivered stunning new power to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. It authorized him to rule by decree, meaning he could single-handedly—and without oversight—create laws, much like an emperor or king.
Lawmakers argued the move would allow Orbán to lead the country through the COVID-19 crisis. European leaders shot back that it was yet another alarming instance in Hungary’s decade-long slide from democracy to authoritarianism.
