Hungary's ruling Fidesz party, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has presented a bill to Parliament aimed at safeguarding the nation from what it perceives as unwarranted political interference by foreign entities. This legislative initiative underscores Orbán's commitment to positioning himself as a staunch defender of Hungary's sovereignty and interests.
The proposed bill on "protecting national sovereignty" is a significant step, signaling the government's resolve to counter perceived external pressures. Orbán, who has long maintained that external forces seek to undermine his government and support his opponents, reiterated this narrative in a recent speech. He warned of "dark forces" besieging Hungary's defensive lines of sovereignty.
Key provisions
The bill introduces the establishment of a distinct authority tasked with identifying and monitoring risks of political interference. This authority would be responsible for recommending regulatory changes to address such risks. The proposed office would specifically investigate advocacy activities and attempts to influence democratic debate. Moreover, it aims to scrutinize organizations using foreign funding to sway voters. The bill introduces severe penalties, including up to three years in prison, for those found guilty of accepting banned foreign financing while participating in election-related activities.
"Hungary's sovereignty is impaired — and it also carries a heightened risk to national security — if political power gets into the hands of persons or organizations dependent on any foreign power, organization, or person," the bill asserts.
Concerns voiced
As Hungary gears up for the European Parliament elections in June, Orbán, who has been in power since 2010, intensifies his party's campaign. However, the proposed legislation faces debate and scrutiny from lawmakers before final approval.
Critics, including civil society groups such as Transparency International Hungary and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, express concern that the bill may be employed to stifle dissent and silence critical voices in the country. Seven civil society organizations issued a joint statement asserting that the "sovereignty protection office" plans are part of the government's broader attempts to quash dissent. They argue that the proposed legislation deviates from Hungary's constitutional and EU obligations and predict its failure.
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a rights group, describes the bill as "intentionally vague and riddled with undefined and broadly interpreted concepts." According to them, this deliberate ambiguity empowers the new authority to arbitrarily label any activity related to public affairs as serving foreign interests, potentially weaponizing the law and consolidating political power.
Katalin Cseh, a member of the European Parliament from the opposition Momentum party, labeled the bill as "another dark milestone for Hungary."
Billboard campaign
Coinciding with the proposed legislation, the Hungarian government initiated a billboard campaign targeting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the son of financier George Soros, Alexander, who chairs the Open Society Foundations. The billboards read: "Let's not dance to their tunes," depicting Von der Leyen alongside Soros' son.
George Soros has been a consistent target for Orbán's Fidesz party over the past decade. The campaign prompted a response from the Open Society Foundations, claiming that Hungarian taxpayers' money was funding political propaganda tainted by antisemitism.
Orbán, on the other hand, reiterated his government's zero-tolerance policy for antisemitism. Government spokesman Zoltan Kovács addressed allegations of antisemitism, stating, "It's never been about George Soros's identity as a Jew. It’s about his ideology and his radical activism. It's about his determination to meddle in politics in Hungary and other countries of Europe."
The proposed legislation and concurrent billboard campaign contribute to the ongoing political discourse in Hungary, where concerns about freedom of expression and potential restrictions on political dissent are at the forefront.


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