Hungary Postpones Parliamentary Vote on Controversial NGO Bill

The Hungarian parliament’s Fidesz caucus has postponed voting on a contentious bill that critics say is aimed at stifling independent civil society and media ahead of upcoming elections. The delay, announced by Cabinet Minister Gergely Gulyás, pushes the adoption of the so-called “Transparency in Public Life” legislation to the autumn parliamentary session.

The bill, introduced by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party, was originally slated for a vote before Parliament’s summer recess after June 15. However, officials now say additional time is needed to evaluate feedback from legal experts and businesses, including financial institutions.

The draft law has triggered widespread condemnation at home and abroad. Human rights organizations, legal scholars, and EU institutions warn it could be used to target a wide range of organizations, including foreign-funded NGOs and independent media, under the vague premise of protecting national sovereignty.

According to the current text, a state agency could designate certain groups as a threat, cutting off their access to funding. Critics argue the proposal bears striking resemblance to Russia’s "foreign agent" laws and follows Orbán’s vow in March to suppress dissent, during which he likened independent journalists and judges to insects.

“This bill is not about transparency - it’s about silencing those who speak truth to power,” one civil society representative said during a recent protest in Budapest.

Rights groups are not the only ones raising concerns. The European Commission has formally demanded the bill’s withdrawal, while the Council of Europe has issued similar warnings over its implications for democratic freedoms.

Orbán, in power since 2010, has frequently claimed that foreign actors - primarily from the United States and Ukraine - are using NGOs and watchdog groups to destabilize Hungary. These organizations have repeatedly denied such accusations, insisting their work adheres to international standards and serves the Hungarian public.

Fidesz lawmakers maintain the legislation is intended to "strengthen national sovereignty" by ensuring transparency among publicly active groups. Yet internal discussions on the bill's scope and application continue, according to Máté Kocsis, head of the ruling party’s parliamentary group.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Péter Magyar, whose Tisza party has recently overtaken Fidesz in several polls, accused the government of using the legislation as a distraction. “This delay only prolongs the debate and keeps public focus away from issues that truly matter, like rising costs and declining education standards,” Magyar wrote on Facebook.

The European Union continues to withhold billions of euros in funding to Hungary over concerns related to the rule of law and corruption, placing further pressure on the Orbán administration as it navigates growing domestic discontent and international scrutiny.