Hungarys national assembly has passed a bill giving practically unlimited power to its right wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban as countries across the world take increasingly drastic actions to tackle coronavirus.

Measures could include locking people up for up to five years if the government decides someone has spread false information - including journalists - in a chilling threat to freedom of speech.

Emergency measures could also mean those breaking coronavirus quarantine could face up to eight years in prison.

But while the UK has placed a time limit on such powers, requiring parliament to vote on the emergency measures every six months, the Hungarian national assembly has passed a bill granting prime minister Viktor Orban indefinite rule by decree.

This allows him extra powers to bypass the national assembly and pass whatever decrees he wants to handle the crisis indefinitely.

The lack of timeframe on the legislation, as the state of emergency lasts indefinitely, has led to warnings he could be allowed to lead the country unendingly by ruling out the possibility of new elections.

UN human rights spokesmen Rupert Culville, told a news conference in Geneva on Friday that the bill appears to give the government practically unlimited powers to rule by decree and bypass parliamentary scrutiny with no clear cut-off date.

One part of the legislation which has attracted particular criticism is the ability to impose prison sentences of up to five years on people spreading false information about the crisis.

Critics have argued that the scope of these powers allow the government to decide which information is false, and therefore could imprison critics of the government.

It could negatively affect the legitimate work of journalists and have a potentially chilling effect on freedom of expression in Hungary, Mr Culville said.

However, justice minister Judit Varga dismissed criticism of the bill as trying to bypass the national assembly or extend government powers as very damaging fake news.

The bill was passed by a national assembly dominated by Orbans party, Fidesz, and Orban himself has been a long outspoken critique of liberal democracy,

The Council of Europe, a leading human rights organisation, wrote a letter to Orban, urging him to ensure his emergency actions comply with both national constitutions and international standards, and observe the very essence of democratic principles.

Adding: An indefinite and uncontrolled state of emergency cannot guarantee that the basic principles of democracy will be observed.

A spokesperson for the Hungarian foreign office said the indefinite time frame was so the national assembly dominated by Orbans party could grant, and take away the powers.

They said: The legislation will enable the government to take all necessary extraordinary measures. The proposed bill is justified as it may happen that due to the pandemic, the session of the Hungarian National Assembly maybe temporarily suspended.

Qualified majority is necessary for the approval of the cardinal bill, any change requires the same proportion.

Nothing in the proposed law suggests punishment for critical reporting, of which there is plenty everyday in the Hungarian media.

The criminal sanctions proposed are clearly targeted at spreading false information or distortions that could interfere with or thwart efforts to protect the population from the spread of the virus.

False claims of a power grab in Hungary are just that. Such insinuations are not only incorrect but defamatory, and impede the governments efforts in slowing down the spread of the coronavirus.

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Coronavirus: Hungarys right-wing leader given unlimited powers that could curb free speech - Mirror Online