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| - Hungary accused five Nordic countries Monday of spreading "fake news" over coronavirus emergency powers granted to Prime Minister Viktor Orban which critics say could be used by the nationalist premier to cement his rule. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto summoned ambassadors from Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden, after he said their foreign ministers had repeated "untrue" claims about the emergency legislation. "This weekend did not pass without the international liberal mainstream continuing to spread fake news," said Szijjarto in a statement late Sunday. The law adopted on March 30 enables Orban to rule by decree without a fixed time limit and drew fire from critics who worry that it pushes EU member Hungary toward authoritarian rule. Donald Tusk, the head of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) grouping, has even called for Orban's Fidesz party to be expelled from the group. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic Buric has also raised concerns in a letter to Orban, saying that "an indefinite and uncontrolled state of emergency cannot guarantee that the basic principles of democracy will be observed". Nor can it ensure that "the emergency measures restricting fundamental human rights are strictly proportionate to the threat which they are supposed to counter," she said. The five Nordic foreign ministers said in a letter dated May 6 that they "share the concerns" expressed by Pejcinovic Buric. "Even in an emergency situation the rule of law must prevail," they wrote. Budapest has fiercely defended the law, insisting that parliament can rescind the powers at any time while the government will end the state of emergency once the pandemic is over. "Do the Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, or Swedish foreign ministers know better than the Hungarians what the Hungarians want...they can mind their own business," Szijjarto said. Last week Orban sent a letter to EPP leaders seeking an apology for the criticism. On Wednesday the European Parliament will hold a session to discuss the rule of law in Hungary, with EPP MEPs among those backing the debate. pmu/jsk/pma
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