Activists, Opposition Protest Hungary’s New Foreign Funding Bill

Civil society groups and opposition parties protested in the Hungarian capital over the weekend against a new bill, which critics warn could allow authorities to severely restrict – and even potentially ban – political parties, non-governmental organizations, and media outlets critical of the government of populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Euronews reported. 

The demonstrations began Friday with civil society groups protesting at Budapest’s Clark Ádám Square and outside the Sovereignty Protection Office, where members of the opposition Momentum party poured red paint on the fence and blockaded the building.  

On Sunday, about 10,000 protesters filled the square next to Hungary’s parliament in central Budapest to denounce the bill, the Associated Press reported. 

The unrest follows a proposed legislation – officially called the “law on the transparency of public life” – that would grant the government sweeping powers to designate any organization as foreign-funded if it receives donations from abroad, regardless of size.  

These groups could be listed in a special register, stripped of public funding, fined, or even banned. The law provides no avenue for legal appeal, according to Deutsche Welle. 

Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party has defended the bill as “Hungary’s right to self-determination in the face of coordinated international pressure.” Officials said the draft law also seeks to fight pro-war and pro-Ukrainian propaganda, and accuses foreign-funded organizations of disseminating it. 

However, independent media outlets, civil liberties organizations and opposition politicians have denounced the bill as an attempt by Orbán to silence dissent and remain in power. They compared the bill to Russia’s “foreign agents” law that targeted individuals or entities receiving foreign funding. 

Opposition Tisza Party leader Péter Magyar called the bill “another step on the Putin path,” referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony said Orbán was trying to “turn our homeland into Russia,” and that the bill “follows the Russian playbook.” 

The European Commission responded cautiously to the proposed law, saying it would not comment in detail on pending legislation but emphasized its commitment to supporting civil society. It noted that a case already before the European Union Court of Justice challenges Hungary’s existing sovereignty law for violating EU rules. 

Observers noted that the draft bill would also apply retroactively to groups receiving EU funds and appears designed to cripple critics ahead of parliamentary elections next spring.  

Orbán has accused the Tisza Party of colluding with Ukrainian intelligence, although he has provided no evidence for his claims. 

Parliament is expected to begin debating the bill Tuesday, though it remains unclear when a final vote will take place.