In a recently released report („Wrong Direction on Rights – Assessing the Impact of Hungary’s New Constitution and Laws”), Human Rights Watch pointed to the alarming tendency of the shrinking space for the Hungarian civil society sector in policy and law making processes. The international human rights non-governmental organisation emphasized in its report that as a result of the major changes to the Constitution and other laws, since 2010 the ruling Fidesz party adopted with its supermajority 648 laws „without adequate consultation with civil society or time for proper parliamentary debate or scrutiny”.
In addition, Human Rights Watch supported the recommendations of Europe’s Venice Commission in that it also noted that with the abolishment of the constitutional reviews actio popularis, the civil society has been deprived from its right to challenge the constitutionality of laws.
ECNL notes with concern the conclusions of Human Rights Watch on the situation in Hungary and continues to engage in Hungary to support a more enabling environment for civil society and participation.