The European Union’s executive has warned Hungary that emergency measures adopted by governments to fight the coronavirus crisis must not undercut democracy, Reuters reports.

The Hungarian parliament granted nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban an open-ended right to rule by executive decree and imposed jail terms on those hindering measures to curb the spread of the virus, or spreading false information related to the pandemic.

“Any emergency measures must be limited to what is necessary and strictly proportionate," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

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