Organizations that receive foreign funding, targeted by a draft law introduced in Hungary. Their activity may be forbidden
Viktor Orban PHOTO: Kay Nietfeld / DPA / Profimedia
The Fidesz Government formation has sent a draft law to the Budapest Parliament, which provides for a list of organizations that receive funding from outside the country and allows to limit their activities if they are considered a threat to the sovereignty of Hungary, reports Reuters.
The draft Law Ver after, in March, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban committed to reduce the foreign financing of the independent press, opposition politicians and NGOs, intensifying their campaign before the 2026 elections, when he will face an unprecedented challenge from a new opposition party that has grown quickly in polls.
According to the draft law, presented on Tuesday evening, the Office for the Protection of Sovereignty will be empowered to draw up a list of foreign legal entities whose activities are considered a threat.
These could be included on the list if the office considers that their activities “undermine the independent, democratic and based on the rule of law of Hungary” or violates the constitutional identity or the Christian culture of Hungary.
The challenge of the primacy of marriage, family and biological sexes is among the facts considered a threat, based on the draft law.
What the draft law provides for
The organizations on the list will have the monitored bank accounts, and the funds from abroad considered a threat can be blocked.
If the draft law is adopted, the authorities will be able to enter the headquarters of the organizations and examine their documents and electronic devices.
If an organization accepts money from abroad, it must pay a fine 25 times higher than the actual financing received. If they cannot pay the fine within 15 days, they must cease their activity, it is shown in the project.
Representatives of the Helsinki Commission in Hungary and AI Transparency International, organizations that the Government said are funded from abroad, have not been immediately available for comments, says Reuters.
The Office for the protection of sovereignty was created by the Government in 2023 to monitor the risks in what the Fidesz ruling party called unjustified political interference from persons or foreign groups.
The European Commission has opened an infringement procedure regarding the law by which the office was created, invoking risks of undermining European values and fundamental rights.
