The Hungarian parliament approved a law on Monday that will start a year-long process to withdraw the country from the International Criminal Court (ICC). According to Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government, the court has become "politicized", Reuters reports, BTA reports.
The decision comes just days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's state visit to Budapest on May 3. According to analysts, the invitation to Netanyahu is an expression of disagreement with the ICC's arrest warrant for him. The Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute expressed concern about Hungary's actions.
The ICC was established more than 20 years ago with a mandate to seek criminal responsibility for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.
Last month, Orbán sharply criticized the court, saying it was no longer an "impartial institution based on the rule of law, but a political court."
Hungary categorically rejected the possibility of arresting the Israeli prime minister and described the warrant against him as "brazen."
The bill to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the ICC was adopted by 134 votes to 37. The text of the law, published on the parliament's website, states:
“Hungary categorically rejects the use of international organizations - especially criminal courts - as a tool for political influence.“
During his visit to Budapest, Netanyahu welcomed Hungary's decision, calling it “bold and principled“.
The Israeli prime minister is the subject of an arrest warrant by the ICC on charges of war crimes related to the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
The procedure for withdrawing from the ICC requires a period of one year after the UN secretary-general is officially notified in writing.