Parts of the bill sponsored by Fidesz’s ruling alliance with the Christian Democrats contained passages that require a two-thirds majority.

Lacking this, the ruling parties pushed it through with a simple majority. After Áder sent the bill back to parliament, the ruling alliance ignored parts of the bill the president highlighted as problematic and changed other passages instead, he said.

Áder then signed the law, Volner noted. This served the political interests of Fidesz instead of safeguarding the rule of law, he added.

Volner said informal talks with the other opposition parties indicated that the impeachment procedure would receive full opposition backing. The motion would require a two-thirds majority, which the opposition lacks. If the impeachment motion were to receive the relevant backing, the Constitutional Court would handle the procedure, he noted.

In response, Fidesz said Jobbik had attacked the president because he signed a law that hurts the interests of Lajos Simicska, a “supporter” of the opposition party.

Fidesz said that Jobbik had in the past pledged to represent the nation’s interests but now, out of greed for money and power, it is protecting the business interests of a billionaire “who is supporting Jobbik corruptly, with billions of forints and thousands of giant posters”.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.