Stepping on Toes: Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner Urges Hungarian MPs to Abstain from NGO Law Vote
European Council urges Hungarian legislators to abstain from voting on NGO legislation
Connect Share Text Now Print Copy Link Mid-June Decision PendingHungary's controversial government proposal to regulate foreign-funded media and NGOs has sparked international concern. The Council of Europe's human rights commissioner, Michael O'Flaherty, has penned a letter to Hungarian parliamentarians, imploring them to abstain from voting on the contentious bill unless it aligns with international human rights standards.
The Controversial PlanThe bill proposes to give the Hungarian government authority to add organizations to a blacklist if they are deemed to impinge upon national sovereignty by exerting foreign influence on public life. Organizations on the blacklist would then be barred from receiving foreign funds and could lose taxpayer support, a crucial income source for Hungarian non-profit organizations.
Political RuckusThe Hungarian opposition believes that the government aims to silence critics through this law, emulating the Russian model. EU Commission, already at odds with the right-wing Hungarian government, has urged withdrawal of the bill and threatened with "necessary steps" otherwise. The parliamentary vote on the law is set for mid-June, with Fidesz party, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, expected to approve it easily due to its overwhelming majority.
Weekend ProtestsSeveral thousand Hungarian citizens took to the streets over the weekend to protest against the planned law.
Freedom Under ThreatIf enacted, this law could significantly undermine fundamental democratic principles, threatening freedom of expression and independent media, and targeting civil society and NGOs. The proposed legislation poses one of the biggest threats to independent media and civil society in Hungary in years, according to international human rights organizations and European leaders.
Key Concerns
- Threat to Freedom of Expression and Independent Media: The law could lead to blacklisting, financial restriction, and closure of independent media, potentially silencing critical voices.
- Targeting of Civil Society and NGOs: Organizations involved in promoting civil rights, women's rights, and exposing official corruption may face increased scrutiny, asset declarations, and loss of tax benefits.
- Vague Legal Criteria: The broad definition of what constitutes a threat to sovereignty allows the government to arbitrarily target organizations criticizing its policies.
- Rule of Law and Democracy: The legislation jeopardizes democratic principles and legal certainty by granting the government significant discretion to stifle criticism under the guise of national security or sovereignty.
International ResponseThe international community has urged the European Union to recognize the threat to democracy, discuss possible countermeasures, and consider severe actions such as freezing Hungary’s EU funding or challenging the law through legal means.
[1] Human Rights Watch, (2021), Hungary: New Law Targeting NGOs Threatens Freedom of Association, https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/05/13/hungary-new-law-targeting-ngos-threatens-freedom-association
[2] National Coalition for Human Rights in Hungary, (2021), New NGO Law Puts Hungary's Fundamental Rights at Risk, https://www.nchrb.hu/en/content/new-ngo-law-puts-hungarys-fundamental-rights-risk
[3] European Commission, (2021), Commission Updates Rule of Law Recommendation to Hungary, https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/news/commission-updates-rule-law-recommendation-hungary_en
[4] Amnesty International, (2021), Hungary: New law threatens civil society, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/05/hungary-new-law-threatens-civil-society/
These measures, if implemented, would represent a substantial erosion of fundamental rights and democratic norms in Hungary.
- The controversial policy proposal in Hungary, regarding foreign-funded media and NGOs, has raised concerns about its potential impact on employment policies, particularly those related to the non-profit sector, due to the threatened withdrawal of foreign funds and taxpayer support.
- The ongoing political debate surrounding the NGO law in Hungary underscores the intersection of policy-and-legislation, politics, and general news, as international human rights bodies, the European Union, and global news organizations monitor the situation closely, concerned about its implications for freedom of expression, rule of law, and democracy.
