Hungarian parliament votes to exit International Criminal Court over "politicization"

Hungary’s parliament has officially voted in favour of the country’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced on April 29. 

"The Hungarian Parliament just voted to withdraw from the International Criminal Court. With this decision, we refuse to be part of a politicised institution that has lost its impartiality and credibility," he wrote on X, Caliber.Az reports.

The Hungarian Parliament just voted to withdraw from the @IntlCrimCourt. With this decision, we refuse to be part of a politicized institution that has lost its impartiality and credibility. pic.twitter.com/C9dit8xaB8

— Péter Szijjártó (@FM_Szijjarto) April 29, 2025

The move follows a bill submitted by Szijjártó to the Hungarian legislature earlier this year, proposing the country’s formal exit from the ICC. He had previously stated that a vote on the matter could take place by the end of May, with the withdrawal set to take effect one year after ratification. Monday’s vote accelerates that timeline.

While the government has cited longstanding concerns about the ICC’s alleged lack of neutrality, Hungarian media and observers linked the vote to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official visit to Budapest. The timing suggests the decision may be, in part, a gesture of solidarity with Israel.

On April 3, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán publicly criticised the ICC, stating that Hungary would withdraw from the court due to what he described as its increasing politicisation and loss of independence.

The ICC had drawn sharp reactions from Budapest and other capitals after it issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu and then-Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The court accused them of committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare, deliberate attacks on civilians, and obstructing humanitarian aid. Israel has denied the allegations.

In response to the ICC's actions, US President Donald Trump on February 7 imposed sanctions against the court, citing its moves against both Washington and Tel Aviv. Trump stated in an executive order that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over the United States and Israel, since neither is a signatory to the Rome Statute nor a member of the ICC.

Hungary has now taken similar steps. On April 3, Gergely Gulyás, head of the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Office, declared the immediate suspension of cooperation with the ICC. He added that the government would initiate and complete the withdrawal process within constitutional and international legal frameworks.

The ICC, headquartered in The Hague, was established by the Rome Statute adopted on July 17, 1998. It began operations on July 1, 2002. It is the first permanent international tribunal tasked with prosecuting individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression.

Though based in The Hague, the court is authorised to hold proceedings elsewhere. It operates independently from the United Nations system, though it can act on referrals from the UN Security Council. The ICC should not be confused with the International Court of Justice, which is also located in The Hague but deals with disputes between states rather than criminal prosecution of individuals.

By Tamilla Hasanova