Hungary proposes withdrawal from International Criminal Court

Although Hungary signed the Rome Statute in 1999 and ratified it in 2001, the minister said it was never incorporated into Hungarian law.

BUDAPEST, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto presented a bill on Tuesday to the National Assembly proposing Hungary's formal withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Speaking during a general parliamentary debate in Budapest, Szijjarto recalled that Hungary had been an active participant in the establishment of the ICC, signing the Rome Statute in 1999 and ratifying it in 2001.

However, he added that the statute had never been incorporated into Hungarian law. The Hungarian parliament must make the final decision on withdrawal, after which he would formally notify the United Nations secretary-general. The withdrawal would take effect one year after notification.

Hungary announced plans to withdraw from the ICC earlier this month during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the country, calling it "a political court." Netanyahu faces an ICC arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Hungary is the first European country to host Netanyahu since the warrant was issued.