Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on May 20, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleHungary's parliament approved a bill to exit the ICC, citing political bias. This follows Netanyahu's visit, with Hungary rejecting his arrest warrant.
(Reuters) -Hungary's parliament approved a bill on Tuesday that will start the country's year-long withdrawal process from the International Criminal Court, which Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government said has become "political".
Orban's government announced the move on April 3, shortly after Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Hungary for a state visit in a rare trip abroad in defiance of an ICC arrest warrant. The ICC's Presidency of the Assembly of State Parties expressed concern at the move.
The International Criminal Court was set up more than two decades ago to prosecute those accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Orban last month said the ICC was "no longer an impartial court, a rule-of-law court, but rather a political court."
Hungary has rejected the idea of arresting the Israeli prime minister and has called the warrant "brazen".
Hungary is a founding member of the ICC and ratified its founding document in 2001. However, the law has not been promulgated.
The bill to withdraw from the ICC passed on Tuesday with 134 members voting in favour and 37 against.
"Hungary firmly rejects the use of international organisations - in particular criminal courts - as instruments of political influence," the bill, submitted by Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen, said on parliament's website.
Netanyahu called Hungary's decision to leave the ICC a "bold and principled decision".
The Israeli prime minister faces an ICC arrest warrant over allegations of war crimes in Gaza as Israel expands its military operation in the Palestinian enclave. Netanyahu has denied the allegations.
A country's withdrawal from the ICC comes into effect one year after the United Nations Secretary-General receives a written notification of the decision.
(Reporting by Anita Komuves; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
The article discusses Hungary's decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, citing political bias.
Hungary claims the ICC has become a political tool rather than an impartial court.
Netanyahu's visit to Hungary occurred shortly before the withdrawal announcement, highlighting Hungary's stance against his ICC arrest warrant.
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