Angry Hungarians Speak Out Against Government's Media and NGO Regulation Bill
Dissatisfied Hungarians voice concerns over legislation governing media and non-governmental organizations
Take to the streets they did, thousands of Hungarians! Last Sunday, citizens of Budapest, led by a wave of anger, took a stand against the proposed legislation by the ruling government aimed at regulating foreign-funded media and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
According to an AFP journalist, Protest signs carried messages such as "Today a donation, tomorrow evidence of a crime?" and loud boos echoed through the square as 115 parliamentarians who supported the bill were named.
The controversial new law, nicknamed the "Law on Transparency of Public Life," seeks to empower the Hungarian government to blacklist organizations perceived as compromising the nation's sovereignty by exerting foreign influence on public life using foreign funds. Organizations found on this list would need a permit to receive future foreign donations and would forfeit eligibility for a significant tax revenue source in Hungary - the one percent tax on income for non-profits.
Opposition members claim that the government is attempting to silence political adversaries in a tactic reminiscent of the Russian model. The European Commission, who has been at odds with the Hungarian government for years, has implored Hungary to withdraw the bill, threatening "necessary measures" should the government fail to act. With the ruling party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Fidesz, holding a comfortable majority, the bill's passage appears inevitable, as a vote is scheduled for mid-June.
Critics view this bill as an attempt to suppress independent media and civil society, stifle democratic debate, and eliminate competition before the 2026 elections. Organizations, such as Lakmusz - Hungary's fact-checking site - fear this legislation will force their closure, as foreign grants make up all of their income.
The regulation bill has been heavily criticized for undermining press freedom, pluralism, and democratic public discourse. European and international organizations, including the European Federation of Journalists and Human Rights Watch, denounce the bill as a direct attack on media freedom and the rule of law, contrary to Hungary's constitutional guidelines.
Features of the Bill
- Foreign Funding Restrictions: Organizations that receive foreign funding face fines amounting to 25 times the grant amount, may be banned from future donations, and lose tax-benefit status, including the right to receive one percent of citizens' income tax donations.
- Asset Declarations and Monitoring: Managers, founders, and possible editors of targeted organizations must declare their assets, similar to public officials. Monitoring by the anti-money laundering authority extends to funding sources and demands potential repayment of funds.
- Bank Account Monitoring and Suspension: Organizations' bank accounts may be subject to close monitoring, and transactions could be suspended if foreign funding is under suspicion.
- Limited Appeals and Legal Protections: Rights to appeal in court are severely limited, and organizations may face criminal charges for alleged forgery if foreign funding is suspected as being disguised as domestic.
- Criminalization of Support: Hungarian supporters of these organizations must prove their donations are of domestic origin, or risk criminal charges.
Reasons Behind the Protests
- Threat to Civil Society and Independent Media: The bill is believed to be a deliberate attempt to suffocate critical civil society, intimidate independent media, and eliminate competition ahead of vital elections.
- Endangerment of Democratic Discourse: Allegations suggest the bill will amplify the resource advantage of government-controlled NGOs and media, undermining freedom of the press, pluralism, and democratic public discourse.
- Conflict with EU values and Rule of Law: International organizations, including the European Federation of Journalists and Human Rights Watch, have strongly criticized the bill, labeling it a clear attack on the rule of law, media freedom, and democratic pluralism.
- Amidst protests, Hungarians asserted that the Community policy and Employment policy should not be used to curtail the rights of foreign-funded media and NGOs, as this infringes on democratic discourse and press freedom.
- In the face of the proposed legislation, politicians and activists alike have raised concerns that the policy-and-legislation, reminiscent of the Russian model, is an attempt to manipulate politics through the suppression of critical voices in the general-news realm.
