The Hungarian government said Tuesday it is submitting draft legislation to revoke anti-coronavirus emergency powers that triggered fears of a power grab by Prime Minister Viktor Orban. "A bill calling on the government to end the state of danger will be submitted to Parliament today," Justice Minister Judit Varga said in a Facebook post. "With the adoption of the law the state of danger is expected to end on June 20 in Hungary," she said. An anti-coronavirus defence bill adopted March 30 by the Budapest assembly enabled Orban to rule by decree until his cabinet declared an end to its "state of danger" declared March 11 owing to the COVID-19 crisis. Orban argued that ruling by decree allowed him to respond quickly and effectively during the emergency. But critics at home and abroad fretted that the law had no time limit and accused Orban of using the crisis to steer EU member Hungary toward authoritarianism. In April the European Parliament approved a statement that was backed by some of Orban's allies in the conservative European People's Party grouping and which said that Hungary's measures were "incompatible with European values". Budapest dismissed the criticism as "fake news" and said the legislation was proportionate and could be rescinded at any time by parliament or reviewed by the consitutional court. Hungary, with a population of almost 10 million, has reported 3,771 infections of the novel coronavirus and 499 deaths as of Tuesday morning, with growth in both numbers gradually slowing and lockdown restrictions relaxed in May. Previously when looking forward to the end of emergency powers, Orban said that critics "will get a chance to apologise to Hungary for unfounded accusations about the law". Hungary had been attacked by a "slander campaign," Varga said. Hungarian opposition parties had called the extra powers "dictatorial" and said Orban was abusing them to cement his rule, rather than combat the virus. Some of the more than 100 decrees issued since April have stripped opposition-run municipalities of power and finances. The emergency powers also included potential jail terms for "scaremongering", sparking concern for press freedom in covering the government's handling of the pandemic. Police have investigated dozens of people on suspicion of scaremongering and temporarily detained several including an opposition party member. pmu/jsk/wai