The Hungarian parliament adopted on Tuesday the 10th amendment to the constitution, granting the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban the power to declare a state of emergency in the event of an armed conflict, war, or humanitarian disaster in a neighboring country.

The 10th amendment was passed by 136 votes in favor and 36 against.

"Under the amended constitution, from November 1, a special legal order can be introduced in the case of a state of war, emergency, or danger," Daily News Hungary indicated.

"A special legal order can only be introduced if developments in a neighboring country seriously impact Hungary in humanitarian or economic terms or if there is a realistic likelihood that it could happen," the website added.

In addition, "the government could suspend some laws or deviate from their stipulations to ensure the security of residents, their assets, as well as the stability of the national economy in a state of danger declared due to war in a neighboring country," Daily News Hungary mentioned.

War in Ukraine “constant threat to Hungary”

Following the parliament's decision, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared a "state of danger" amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The Hungarian PM considered in a video on social media that the war in Ukraine is “a constant threat to Hungary” that was “putting our physical security at risk and threatening the energy and financial security of our economy and families.”

Orban underlined that the world is on the brink of an economic crisis, and Hungary must stay out of this war and ensure the safety of its families.

It is noteworthy that in response to the sixth package of sanctions being prepared by the EU in response to the war in Ukraine, which includes a gradual ban on Russian oil, Orban assured the Hungarian parliament that his country would not oppose imposing new restrictions on Moscow as long as they did not jeopardize Hungary's energy security.

The Hungarian Prime Minister had blasted the European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen for "attacking" EU unity with the plan to ban Russian oil, saying it crosses a red line.