The rule of law is not an abstract notion but the foundation of fair government. It ensures that those in power cannot use legislation or the nation’s resources for their own purposes, and that no one is placed above the law. Yet over the past fifteen years, the Orbán government has deliberately dismantled the rule of law, to dominate the country unhindered and turn public funds into private wealth. By constantly reshaping the electoral system, those in power have guaranteed that they can remain in office even when the majority of voters no longer supports them. By weakening the independence of the judiciary, they have ensured that corruption has no consequences. The result: democracy has been hollowed out and rule by decree has become the norm.

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Restoring the rule of law requires comprehensive reforms that guarantee parliamentary democracy, legal certainty, the balance of powers, fair elections, the independence of the judiciary, the autonomy of local governments, and freedom of the press. For Hungary to return to democracy governed by the rule of law, where power is not unlimited and public funds are not diverted to private interests, the following measures are essential:

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STRENGTHENING PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY INSTEAD OF RULE BY DECREE
The legislature must again become a forum for professional lawmaking, democratic debate, and genuine oversight. The role of the National Assembly must be restored and the rights of MPs ensured. Opposition representatives must also be given meaningful opportunities to participate in lawmaking, and the professional independence of parliamentary committees must be guaranteed. For parliamentary democracy to function stably, the application of special legal measures must be limited to genuinely exceptional cases, subject to strict time limits.

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A NEW CONSTITUTION WITH BROAD SOCIAL CONSULTATION
The basis of a long-term stable and predictable constitutional order is the broadest possible social acceptance and stability of the constitution. It is therefore vital to adopt a new constitution founded on comprehensive social dialogue, involving civil organisations, professional groups and political communities. The rules for constitutional amendments must be framed so that they serve the public interest rather than reflect the temporary balance of political power. To this end, the conditions for amendments must be tightened and social debate strengthened.

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A MORE TRANSPARENT AND FAIR ELECTORAL SYSTEM
A fundamental prerequisite for democratic elections is fair political competition on equal terms. The rules of the constituency system must therefore be adjusted, preferably based on proposals from an independent expert body. Provisions that confer disproportionate advantage on any participant must be removed. Equally important are stronger transparency in campaign financing, a balanced system of postal voting, and the impartial operation of public media under the supervision of an independent body.

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AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY
The independence of the courts is one of the cornerstones of a democratic state governed by the rule of law. The judiciary must be reformed to rest on professionalism and autonomy. The head of the Supreme Court must be chosen on professional grounds, with the involvement of the judicial community. A new independent body should investigate cases of corruption. Judges must be given greater protection to ensure their freedom from political influence.

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SUPPORTING THE AUTONOMY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
The role of local communities is of paramount importance for democracy. Local governments must be competent and have adequate financial resources to decide independently on the provision of local public services. Local elections must offer equal chances to all participants. Local communities and elected city leaders, familiar with local conditions and able to respond directly to residents’ needs, must be given a greater role in decision-making.

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IMPARTIAL PUBLIC MEDIA AND THE PROTECTION OF PRESS FREEDOM
The role and duty of public media is to provide objective information. To ensure this, they must operate free of political influence, overseen by an independent professional body. The funding system of public media must be reformed to make it transparent and sustainable. It is crucial that state advertising be distributed according to transparent market principles, thereby supporting media pluralism. Guarantees for the independent operation of the press must be strengthened so that freedom of expression cannot be suppressed by either political or economic means.

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PARTICIPATION IN LAWMAKING
It must be consistently enforced that individuals and organisations can express their views on draft legislation. This not only makes lawmaking more predictable but also prevents numerous conflicts. Draft legislation must be published online in good time so that anyone can comment, and forums must be established where trade unions, employers’ organisations, professional bodies and civil society groups can consult – and reach agreements – with the government body preparing the legislation.