Hungary's Parliament Votes Against Leaving International Criminal Court After Government Announcement

Hungary's stance on the International Criminal Court (ICC) has become a point of internal political contention. In April 2025, Gulyás Gergely, then-minister leading the Prime Minister's Office, announced that Hungary would withdraw from the ICC. This move would have aligned Hungary with countries like the United States, China, and India, which are not members of the court for various reasons, including criticisms of its operations and concerns over national sovereignty.

However, the Hungarian parliament ultimately voted against the withdrawal. This decision creates a divergence between the government's stated intention and the legislative body's resolution. The ICC, established by the Rome Statute, includes all European Union member states among its signatories and ratifiers, alongside numerous countries across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific.

The article also provides context on other major global powers' relationship with the ICC. The United States, while having signed the Rome Statute, has never ratified it and frequently criticizes the court's functioning. China has not joined the Rome Statute at all, questioning the ICC's jurisdiction. India, meanwhile, cites the need to preserve its sovereignty as its reason for not being a member.