For years, the Hungarian prime minister has promoted a narrative that external forces are trying to undermine his government and prop up his opponents.
In a speech this month, the longtime leader said “dark forces” would “continue to besiege the defensive lines of sovereignty, including those of Hungary”.
But Orbán’s critics say his rhetoric is designed to undermine opponents and that, ahead of European parliament and municipal elections next year, the government is stepping up efforts to create imaginary enemies and distract voters.
On Wednesday seven civil society organisations warned in a statement that the plans for a “sovereignty protection office” were part of the government’s broader attempts to quash dissent.
“The bill is part of the government’s attempt to silence all critical voices,” they said.
The groups, which include Transparency International Hungary and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, added that the proposed legislation was not in line with Hungary’s constitutional and EU obligations and would therefore fail.
The proposed office would investigate advocacy activities, activities aimed at influencing democratic debate, and organisations that use foreign funding to influence voters. The bill would also punish banned foreign financing for groups running for election with up to three years in prison.
The broad wording has deepened concerns that the office could arbitrarily target journalists, trade unions, churches and companies.
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a rights group, said the bill was “intentionally vague and riddled with undefined and broadly interpreted concepts”.
“This deliberate ambiguity allows the new authority to arbitrarily consider any activity related to public affairs as serving foreign interests,” it said, adding that “this is a clear attempt to weaponise the law, create a chilling effect, and further consolidate political power”.
Hungary’s opposition also raised concerns. Katalin Cseh, a member of the European parliament from the opposition Momentum party, said the proposal is “another dark milestone for Hungary”.
“A straight-up authoritarian tool to crush dissent, intimidate & punish critical voices – it aims to strangle remaining independent media, NGOs & opposition parties, already facing relentless attacks,” she said.
The Hungarian government did not respond to a request for comment.
A government spokesperson wrote on social media that the legislation was “aimed at deterring domestic political actors from accepting foreign funds”.
The bill’s publication comes days after the Hungarian government unveiled a controversial billboard campaign depicting the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, and Open Society Foundations chair, Alex Soros, with the slogan: “Let’s not dance to their tune.” The government is also mailing a questionnaire containing wide-ranging criticism of Brussels to all citizens.
The campaign has renewed concerns that the Hungarian authorities are promoting antisemitic narratives at home – a notion that the Hungarian government has vehemently denied – and that Fidesz, Orbán’s party, is using state resources to undermine the credibility of EU institutions.
A spokesperson for the Open Society Foundations said: “Hungarian taxpayers’ money is again being used to pay for political propaganda that is deeply tainted by antisemitism – further evidence of how far the standards of political decency have slipped in an EU member state.
“This is a well-worn tactic by the Hungarian government – creating a vague and imaginary foreign threat to distract voters from real domestic issues, such as the quality of public schooling and healthcare.”
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