Hungarian citizenship at risk for dual citizens: new bill about suspension, expulsion

A new bill submitted by PM Orbán’s ruling Fidesz would enable authorities to suspend the Hungarian citizenship of dual citizens for years. Those “losing their Hungarian citizenship for a while” could be forced out of the country in 72 hours. Since Orbán’s parties have a supermajority in the Hungarian National Assembly, you can take it for granted that the bill will soon become law.

Dual citizens may lose their Hungarian citizenship for 10 years

According to Szabad Európa, János Halász, an MP of Fidesz, submitted the relevant bill on Tuesday night, bearing the name “suspension of the Hungarian citizenship”. PM Orbán highlighted the need for such a bill in his 15 March speech, mentioning “bugs” surviving the winter and working against the “Hungarian sovereignty”.

Importantly, all EU citizens and the citizens of the European Economic Area (Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Norway) are exempted. All other nationals can only lose their Hungarian citizenship for a maximum of ten years if they are a threat to Hungary’s public order or national security.

The specific reasons for suspension are the following:

• working in the military or public services branch of another country;
• operating in favour of a foreign power or institution in a manner incompatible with Hungarian citizenship;
• leaving Hungary’s territory to join a terrorist group;
• being convicted by a Hungarian court for crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, apartheid, violent alteration of the constitutional order, conspiracy against the constitutional order, treason, disloyalty, supporting the enemy, espionage, financing acts of terrorism, or terrorism;

The Hungarian government expects citizens to report each other

Interestingly, everybody can report persons whose citizenship should be suspended for the reasons above, and authorities will not even inform the person involved that an investigation is underway. The affected party may file an appeal against the suspension order within thirty days, which must be forwarded to the Kúria (Hungary’s Supreme Court) by the competent minister within fifteen days. The third-instance judicial body has forty-five days to uphold or annul the minister’s decision.

However, when the sentence comes into effect, authorities can force the person out of the country in 72 hours. Therefore, they may have to wait for the decision of the Kúria abroad.

Unique law

Since Orbán’s Fidesz and allied KDNP have a supermajority in the Hungarian parliament, the bill will surely become law soon. The Hungarian media wondered before who might be among the first targets and agreed that it might be entrepreneur and philanthropist George Soros, who has been associated with supporting illegal migration in government communication for years.

Such a law is unique in the world, but it can become a precedent.

• We wrote HERE that PM Orbán ordered the National Information Centre to compile the list of foreign-funded NGOs and media outlets.

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