Bán-Forgács Nóra: The Role of the Hungarian Ombudsman (Commissioner for Fundamental Rights) in Handling the Coronavirus Crisis in Hungary from 2020-2023
2024/15
This study examines the relationship between the coronavirus epidemic and the ombudsman in Hungary. Its main claim is that the COVID-19 epidemic exposed the shortcomings of the Hungarian Ombudsman institution (Commissioner for Fundamental Rights). On the one hand, the constitutional changes in 2011 adversely affected the institution, and therefore, the political environment from which the pandemic erupted was not ideal. We demonstrate through the cases of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights (ombudsman) that legal protection remained half-hearted and inadequate, thus undermining the active protection of citizens.