On Tuesday, the Hungarian Parliament voted to retreat the country from the global Criminal Court (ICC). This movement has echoed widely both in Europe and beyond.
The European Union immediately expressed its concern and powerfully criticised this step as incompatible with EU abroad policy commitments. At the same time, there were voices of support — the most expressive came from Italy, where Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini defined Hungary's decision as an act of "sylerence and courage". The issue again shows how profoundly Europe is present divided on common values and on the direction of integration.
Hungary v “politicisation” of the ICC
The authoritative reason given by the Government of Viktor Orbán to talk with the ICC is the alleged failure of impartiality and apoliticalness by the Court. abroad Minister Péter Szijártó, speaking in front of the parliament, accused institutions of politicising its activities and favouring certain geopolitical interests. In his opinion, the decision to issue an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and erstwhile Minister of Defence is evidence that the ICC has ceased to follow nonsubjective global law.
Szijjártó further pointed out the compromising situation in which the Court issued a akin arrest warrant against Hamas' leader, who had long been dead. For Hungary, it is simply a sign that the organisation not only acts under political influence, but besides does not control its own procedures. The government in Budapest stated that it no longer intended to participate in a strategy which, according to him, no longer serves justice, but political objectives of large states and blocks of interest.
A motion of support for Israel
The background to Hungary's decision was the planned visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanjah to Budapest. From the point of view of global law, as a associate of the ICC, Hungary would be obliged to hold it. Speech from the Court allowed the Government of Orbán to accept the Israeli leader without hazard of legal conflict. The invitation of Netanyahu under specified circumstances was not only a diplomatic motion but besides a clear political signal — support for Israel and his right to same - defense.
Budapest has long maintained close relations with Tel Aviv, and Viktor Orbán has repeatedly stressed that Europe should support Israel more closely in its fight against terrorism. The criticism of the ICC so fits into Hungary's wider abroad policy strategy, which increasingly focuses on bilateral alliances with countries outside the mainstream of EU diplomacy. However, the opposition in the country points out that specified measures may lead to further weakening of Hungary's position in the EU and their isolation internationally.
Matteo Salvini: “Choice of Justice and Freedom”
Against the background of European criticism, Matteo Salvini's voice was unique. The Italian Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the right-wing League, known for its Eurosceptic views, expressed full support for Hungary's decision. In his entry on platform X (formerly Twitter), he described it as "a choice of justice and freedom, sovereignty and courage." According to Salvini, each state has the right to independently measure whether global institutions operate in accordance with their national interests and principles of justice.
Salvini's support is not only a motion of political solidarity, but besides an component of a broader alliance between national and conservative parties in Europe. The Hungarian Fidesz and the Italian League have long worked together within the European faction, criticising, among others, the EU's migration policy, the federalisation of EU institutions and the dictatorship of Brussels. For Salvini, the decision of Budapest is an example of how states can defend their sovereignty and argue institutions that, in his opinion, have lost their mandate to act.
Brussels reacts with a warning
The European Commission reacted rapidly and firmly. The EC Ombudsman, Anouar El Anouni, recalled that, in accordance with Article 24(3) of the Treaty on European Union, all associate States are obliged to actively and loyally support the common abroad and safety policy. The ICC's intervention without consulting EU partners is, in Brussels' view, a violation of this rule and undermines the unity of the community internationally.
Although the Commission has not yet put forward circumstantial sanctions against Hungary, commentators foretell that this could exacerbate existing tensions. The European Union is conducting respective infringement proceedings against Hungary in respect of the regulation of law, media freedom or number rights. Adding abroad policy to this could further reduce EU funds for Budapest or another forms of pressure.
Another inflammatory point in EU-Hungary relations
Speech from the global Criminal Court is another example of Hungary's increasingly confrontational course towards EU institutions. The country has been at the centre of controversy over limiting the independency of courts, attacks on free media or blocking joint EU initiatives specified as climate packages or reconstruction funds. Now an component of global policy — a sphere that has been comparatively common to all associate States — has come to this.
Experts inform that if specified action becomes the norm, the Union can become a loose link between countries in which solidarity and common interests fall to the background. On the another hand, in countries specified as Italy, Slovakia or Romania, there is increasing support for sovereignist parties who believe that Brussels exceeds its competence. In this context, Hungary's decision may become a precedent that others would like to repeat.
The Fidesz Party, ruling continuously since 2010, under Viktor Orbán, has been experiencing a decline in support. According to a Republican poll of early 2025, the TISZA opposition party, led by Péter Magyar, gains 39% of support, while Fidesz gains 32% .
Other studies, specified as the thought poll, indicate an even greater advantage of TISZA, which reaches 45% of support against 36% for Fidesz . TISZA is gaining popularity through its promises to fight corruption, improve relations with the European Union and address economical problems specified as inflation and the crisis of life costs
In Italy, the League party, led by Matteo Salvini, notes a decline in support. In fresh polls, the League has gained about 8–10% of support, which represents a crucial decrease compared to erstwhile results. The main coalition party, the Italian Brothers (Fratelli d’Italia) led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, maintains unchangeable support of about 28–30%
