Hungary: Law allows "revocation" of citizenship
With the votes of the right-wing government camp, the Hungarian parliament has passed a law that makes it possible to temporarily revoke the Hungarian citizenship of some dual nationals. The result of the vote was published on the parliament's website.
11.06.2025, 15:36
SDA
According to the law, the government can in future "revoke" the Hungarian citizenship of dual nationals who "exhibit behavior that endangers public order, public safety and national security in Hungary", as the law states. This also applies if the person concerned is "acting in the interests of a foreign power or a foreign organization that realizes the goals of a foreign power or foreign organization".
However, a prerequisite for the temporary withdrawal of citizenship is that the person concerned has citizenship of another country, but not of another EU country, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland or Liechtenstein. The maximum duration of the withdrawal is limited to ten years. Internationally, such a time-limited regulation is unusual. Citizenship can normally be withdrawn permanently, but in other cases citizenship can also be renounced.
Orban's mantra: critics harm the country
Critics see the law as another instrument with which the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban wants to silence unwelcome voices. The right-wing populist head of government has been using repressive methods against critics and independent civil organizations for years. A recurring justification for his actions is that people and organizations critical of the government are harming Hungary and representing the interests of other countries and powers.
The new law could affect, for example, a Hungarian-American dual citizen who is involved in or heads a human rights organization in Hungary. The "revocation" of their Hungarian citizenship would mean that they could be expelled from the country. A Hungarian citizen, on the other hand, cannot be expelled from Hungary.
