BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — The nationalist party led by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has introduced a new bill aimed at significantly enhancing the government's ability to monitor, restrict, penalize, and potentially ban organizations that it perceives as a threat to national sovereignty. This legislation marks a marked escalation in the government's ongoing crackdown on critical media and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Submitted by a lawmaker from Orbán's Fidesz party, the proposed bill seeks to expand the powers of Hungary's controversial Sovereignty Protection Office. This office would be empowered to identify organizations that purportedly influence public debate or voter sentiment in ways that are considered detrimental to Hungary's interests. Under the legislation, any organization deemed to endanger Hungary's sovereignty through activities financed by foreign support could face unprecedented restrictions.
Under the proposed framework, such organizations could be placed on a governmental blacklist. Subsequently, they would lose critical funding sources and risk facing severe financial penalties if found guilty of activities aimed at swaying public life with foreign backing. The bill is widely seen as a continuation of Orbán's efforts to strengthen government control over political expression and civic engagement, particularly as he prepares for elections scheduled for next year.
Parliament is anticipated to vote on this bill soon, and given that Fidesz holds a two-thirds majority, its passage is expected. Many independent media outlets and NGOs in Hungary are already under significant legal and financial pressures, driving them to increasingly rely on international grants and assistance for their operations.
In a February speech, Orbán made controversial remarks, stating that organizations receiving any foreign funding "have to be taken down," asserting that their existence should be rendered "legally impossible." For years, Orbán has enacted measures that critics argue aim to stigmatize and suppress NGOs, particularly those that advocate for women's and minority rights, provide legal and human rights assistance, or expose governmental corruption.
The situation has escalated further in 2023 with the establishment of the Sovereignty Protection Office. This authority is mandated to investigate organizations and media outlets that the government considers vectors of foreign influence. This office possesses the capacity to gather intelligence on any groups or individuals benefiting from foreign funding, with support from Hungary's secret services. Violations of the established rules could lead to imprisonment for up to three years.
Critics of this legislative move draw parallels between the Sovereignty Protection Office and Russia's "foreign agent" law, suggesting that it could be used as a tool for arbitrary targeting of dissenters, including NGOs and journalists. The proposed bill articulates a broad definition of what constitutes a threat to national sovereignty, indicating organizations may be targeted if they criticize or portray negatively values associated with Hungary’s democratic system, national unity, traditional family structures, or Christian cultural norms. This broad framing implies that even legitimate criticism of government policy could be construed as a national security threat.
Groups that find themselves on the newly proposed list would also be prevented from receiving donations through Hungary's 1% personal income tax program, a crucial funding channel for many non-profits. Additionally, they would require special permission from the national tax authority to accept any foreign contributions. Hungarian citizens wishing to donate to these blacklisted organizations would have to provide formal declarations affirming that their contributions originate domestically, and organizations receiving prohibited foreign support would risk fines up to 25 times the value of the offending donations.
