Hungarian parliament lifts state of emergency! – UPDATE

Parliament on Tuesday terminated the state of emergency introduced in March in response to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The law submitted by Gergely Gulyás, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office, which required a two-thirds majority of lawmakers in attendance was approved with 192 votes in favour and no votes against.

The date the emergency is lifted will be decided by the government.

Justice Minister Judit Varga said earlier that

the emergency was expected to be lifted on June 20.

Parliament on Tuesday also passed a law sponsored by Gulyás on temporary health measures related to the epidemic and the state of epidemiological preparedness with 135 for, 54 against and 3 abstentions.

Under the law, the government may order a state of health emergency at the proposal of the Chief Medical Officer. Such an emergency can be called if people’s lives are endangered or if the fitness of health-care staff is compromised to an extent that demand for health care outstrips supply. It also applies if hospitals are burdened to the extent that the quality of care is seriously compromised.

The law defines six months as the maximum period it can be applied, though the government can order an extension.

It also sets official home quarantine regulations which allow for exemptions in special cases.

The law authorises armed Hungarian army personnel to carry out tasks related to health emergencies.

Meanwhile, it extends provisions affecting health insurance and family subsidies, as well as a measure making parking free of charge in public areas until July 1.