Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that his country is leaving the International Criminal Court (ICC) due to its “politicization.”
Speaking at a press conference in Budapest alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Orbán’s remarks were quoted by Telex. The Hungarian leader emphasized that he has experience with the institution, as he was the one who signed Hungary’s accession to the ICC in 2001.
According to Orbán, in recent years, the ICC has lost its impartiality and turned into a “political court.” He stressed that Hungary, as a democratic state governed by the rule of law, cannot remain part of it.
Netanyahu supported Orbán’s decision, calling it a “bold step.” He also criticized the ICC, describing it as a “corrupt organization” that “threatens democracy.”
Earlier, the head of Orbán’s cabinet, Gergely Gulyás, announced that the Hungarian government had initiated the process of withdrawing from the ICC. It was later confirmed that Orbán had already signed the official government decision.
