The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union is a human rights NGO. Since our foundation in 1994, we have been working for everybody being informed about their fundamental human rights and empowered to enforce it against the undue interference by those in position of public power.
The Constitutional Court stroke down the law on 98% extra tax in its resolution of October 26. The body declared the law unconstitutional on its face, among other reasons, due to the violation of the prohibition of ex post facto legislation.
János Lázár, the leader of the governing party’s fraction, as a reaction in a couple of hours after the Court decision, presented motions as MP to the parliament, which on one hand would revoke the competency of the Constitutional Court in the above issue, on the other hand would guarantee that the constitutional objection would be resolved and the law on 98% extra tax could pass.
Orosz Béla was fined 50 thousand forints for a minor offence. In a letter sent on August 8th, he informed the police that because of his poverty, he cannot pay the fine, but would like to work off his debts through community service. He did not receive a response from the police. Two months later, the courts informed him that they will hold a hearing regarding the conversion of his fine into a prison sentence. This procedure is illegal; the judicial authorities disregarded the laws relating to offences.
The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) received an invitation to take part in the work of the Parliamentary Committee on the New Constitution. The HCLU duly declined the invitation.
József was fined for 30.000 forints for a minor offence. He did not pay, because he had nothing to pay with. 3-4 days later, a policaman came, and told him that if he does not pay the fine, he has to go to prison. József then called to his neighbor, to tell him his horse was for sale. The policeman told him he shouldn’t sell the horse to the neighbor, and brought over his own friend, who was there in 10 minutes and took the horse worth 100 thousand for 30.500.
While childbirth at home is accepted and legally regulated in most developed countries – In Hungary, the entire obstetrician-gynecologist profession is against childbirth outside of the institutional maternity ward. Why is this?
The draft Bill on Social Participation will repeal the now operative law on lobbying. This proposed measure would lead to an increase in oppurtunities for corruption by curtailing the transparency of public decision-making.