Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Hungarian Parliament Cancels Meeting on Proposed Child Protection Legislation, Raises Questions on Procedure and Timing

In a sudden turn of events, the Hungarian Parliament's Justice Committee canceled a meeting scheduled for Monday morning to discuss a not-yet-submitted legislative package aimed at enhancing child protection measures.
Despite the confusion and rush, the package might still be presented later on Monday.

The meeting was abruptly convened on Sunday evening at 19:33 and then canceled the following morning at 7:58, just hours before it was due to start at 10:15. The agenda was set to include only one item: the discussion of the child protection bill, which was drafted by the ruling Fidesz party. The unusual manner in which the meeting was assembled and subsequently canceled underlines the chaotic handling of the legislative process, particularly as it concerned a bill that had not yet been formally introduced.

The draft legislation, known as "The Bill on Excluding Conditional Release for Convicted Pedophiles," could be proposed even after the meeting's cancellation. According to Justice Minister Bence Tuzson, the proposal, if known in detail, would revise current practices on releasing convicted pedophiles, considering the victims’ opinions before making decisions on parole. However, this comes a day after Fidesz parliamentary group leader Máté Kocsis voiced a stricter plan, advocating for no parole in such cases.

The inconsistencies referred to in political and legal terms as "coherence issues" may have led to the delay in submitting the bill by Monday morning, resulting in the cancellation of the committee meeting. However, sources told hvg.hu that this does not rule out the possibility of the bill being presented later Monday, or even being put to a vote on Tuesday.

Initially, the package, which would amend some 20 laws, was to be introduced as a private member's bill by Máté Kocsis of Fidesz, possibly in collaboration with István Simicskó of KDNP, following previous practice. The government coalition would then request an expedited legislative process.

This extraordinary procedure, which can be invoked only four times a year, facilitates the rapid passage of legislation, and importantly, bypasses the eight-day public consultation period typically required. By introducing the law under this procedure on Monday, the Parliament could conduct the debate and final vote by Tuesday. Only one-fifth of the members of Parliament’s signatures are needed to initiate the expedited process, which Fidesz-KDNP can easily secure even without Judit Varga's replacement.

An example of such a fast-track legislative maneuver occurred exactly a year ago, when the government quickly amended a law to minimize the Hungarian Medical Chamber’s authorities. The plan appears to account for the introduction of an unexpected additional session on Tuesday, which for now lists an insignificant agenda.

Despite the cancellation of the committee meeting, Fidesz has not necessarily abandoned the "fast track" strategy. The bill might be introduced not as a private member's initiative but directly by the government, which does not require a committee meeting or separate agenda-setting. Of course, an expedited legislative process can also be requested for government submissions.

An alternative approach could involve invoking a rarely used deviation from the house rules, requiring approval from four-fifths of the members of Parliament, demanding support from opposition MPs, potentially with assistance from the Mi Hazánk faction, who occasionally cooperates with the government.

There’s also the possibility of adding an additional session later in the week and further refining the proposal. Changes to the meeting schedule and the agenda for the two currently planned days can be made up to the point of agenda approval on Monday at 16:20. If necessary, this could lead to a special meeting of the committee.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Olaf Scholz vs. Elon Musk: A Dispute Over Common Sense, Which Scholz is Deemed to Lack
EU’s Overregulation Drives Innovation Collapse and Brain Drain
Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán: Now it's our moment to shine! It's our opportunity to take over Brussels!
Trump Initiates U.S. Withdrawal from WHO, Citing Concerns Over Organizational Integrity
Trump Just Revoked Security Clearance for the 51 Intel Agents Who Lied About Hunter Biden's Laptop
Five Billionaires on Track to Break One Trillion Dollar Wealth Barrier
Bill Ackman Praises Social Media Platform X as 'The New Media'
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Proposes Rome as European Union Capital
France Urges EU to Act on Musk's Political Influence as Tensions Rise
Controversial Release Culminates in Severe Budapest Collision: The Freeing of a Convicted Human Trafficker
Rising Concerns: The Impact of Synthetic Chemicals on Global Child Health
Massive Cyberattack Disrupts Slovakia's Land Registry System
Elon Musk Praises German Far-Right Figure Alice Weidel in Controversial Live Discussion
Italian Mayor Strives to Halt Sale of Historic Neapolitan Islet
Unprecedented Sanctions Levied on Hungarian Handball Team After On-Field Protest
Raging Wildfires Devastate Los Angeles Region
Tragedy Strikes Montenegro as Shooting Toll Rises to Thirteen
Police Investigation Intensifies Around Hungarian Musician Delhusa Gjon
Hollywood at a Standstill: Wildfires Bring Film Industry to a Halt
Pentagon Issues Stark Warning Amid Escalating U.S.-Russia Tensions
Elon Musk's Global Political Maneuvering Causes Ripples Across Europe
Elon Musk Engages European Leaders in a War of Words
Toxic Strychnine Envelopes Sent to Belgian Prime Minister Unveiled
Elon Musk Sparks Debate with Praise for Germany's Far-Right AfD Leader on Social Media
California Wildfires Set to Become Costliest in U.S. History
Financial Woes Force SCM Gloria Buzău to Withdraw from Romanian Handball Championship
A Nation Mourns: The State Funeral of Former President Jimmy Carter
A Farewell to Jimmy Carter: A Nation Bids Goodbye to a Former President
Unprecedented Sanctions on Mosonmagyaróvári Players for On-field Protest
Hollywood Stars Flee as Wildfires Rage in Los Angeles
Raging Wildfires in Los Angeles: A Heartwarming Tale Amidst Tragedy
Ravaging Flames: The Human Stories Behind the California Wildfires
Wildfires Threaten LeBron James' $23 Million Mansion in Los Angeles
Teenager Fatally Stabbed at Bedford Bus Station
Tragedy Strikes in Bedford: Teenager Fatally Stabbed at Bus Station
Devastating Wildfires Scorch Los Angeles: Paris Hilton's Home Reduced to Ashes
Tragic Incident in Hungary: Sixty-Year-Old Man Confesses to Killing Wife
Tragic Incident in Fót: Man Arrested for the Murder of His Wife
Released Human Trafficker Crashes into Family Car in Buda
Delhusa Gjon: Police Investigation Intensifies Amid Alleged Misconduct
Water Shortages Hamper Efforts as Los Angeles Wildfire Claims More Lives
Santa Ana Winds Fuel Ferocious Wildfires in Los Angeles
Desert Winds Ignite Vast Wildfires Across Los Angeles
Devastating Wildfires Ravage Los Angeles: Smoke Chokes and Homes Turn to Ash
Mass Layoffs Announced at Budapest's Marketing Firm amid Budget Cuts
Honoring a Legacy: Jimmy Carter's State Funeral Unites Past and Present Leaders
Former Presidents Reunite at Jimmy Carter's State Funeral
Pentagon Issues Dire Warning on Russia Amid Heightened Global Tensions
Legal and Political Challenges Surrounding Donald Trump Intensify
Hungarian Minister Sanctioned: A Surprise Move by the United States
×