Top court annuls parts of 'integrity directive'

Hungary's Constitutional Court has said that some sections of the integrity directive issued by the head of the National Judicial Office (OBH) for courts of justice are unconstitutional. The directive issued by OBH head Tunde Hando in 2016 not only describes the procedures judges should follow upon announcing their secondary activities and other issues pertaining to their impartiality, but also specifies the disciplinary procedure in case of breaches of the directive. According to Hungarian law, the duties and rights of judges have to be laid down in laws that require a two-thirds majority to clear parliament rather than in directives. The ruling said that the directive, which is non-binding and is not subject to constitutional control, cannot contain regulations involving disciplinary action.