Current:Home > FinanceNews outlets and NGOs condemn Hungary’s new ‘sovereignty protection’ law as a way to silence critics -Blueprint Wealth Network
News outlets and NGOs condemn Hungary’s new ‘sovereignty protection’ law as a way to silence critics
View
Date:2025-04-16 03:02:28
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Independent media outlets and rights groups on Wednesday condemned legislation passed by Hungary’s right-wing populist government that would allow authorities to investigate and prosecute people accused of undermining the country’s sovereignty.
The coalition government made up of the Fidesz and KDNP parties approved the “sovereignty protection act” on Tuesday. It calls for the creation of a new government authority that will have the power to gather information on any groups or individuals that benefit from foreign funding and that influence public debate.
The measure requires Hungary’s secret services to assist the authority in its investigations and allows prison terms of up to three years for anyone convicted of violated the new law.
Opponents of the legislation have compared it to Russia’s “foreign agent” law and say its broad language can be used to arbitrarily target government critics. The country’s right-wing prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has long been accused of taking over the majority of Hungary’s media and building an autocratic political system that undermines democratic norms.
Representatives of 10 independent news outlets signed an open letter decrying the law, saying the Hungarian government had unjustly accused them of “serving foreign interests.”
“This is a deliberate lie, which defames not only the newsrooms that do vital work for democracy, but also those Hungarians who watch, listen to and read their content,” the outlets wrote, adding that independent newsrooms in Hungary have been transparent and not benefited from “hidden funds or subsidies.”
Hungary’s government argues that the law is designed to prevent political parties from receiving funding from abroad for election campaigns, as it claims was done by a coalition of six opposition parties before a 2022 parliamentary election that resulted in Orbán handily winning a fourth straight term in power.
In November, Dunja Mijatovic, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, urged Hungary’s government to retract the bill, saying it “poses a significant risk to human rights and should be abandoned.”
If the law was adopted, Mijatovic wrote at the time, it would provide Hungary’s government “with even more opportunity to silence and stigmatize independent voices and opponents.”
A group of Hungarian non-governmental organizations has also condemned the law in a letter signed by seven rights groups, including Amnesty International, Transparency International and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union.
The groups called the legislation “nothing more than a political propaganda project built upon secret service methods” and charged that it is in violation of Hungary’s constitutional, international and EU obligations. They vowed to take legal action against the law and “provide support and assistance to targeted civil communities, activists and media actors.”
Passage of the law comes as Hungary remains in a protracted struggle with the European Union, which has frozen billions in funding to Budapest over concerns that Orbán’s government has overseen democratic backsliding and trampled on the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and asylum seekers.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen , the four largest political groupings in the EU’s Parliament urged the commission to abandon a plan to free up a portion of the frozen funds after the Hungarian government made reforms to its judicial system.
The lawmakers pointed to the Hungarian sovereignty law as another sign that Orbán had not changed course, noting that that the new sovereignty authority would be under his direct control and equip him “with sweeping powers without any democratic supervision.”
“It is evident that a fair allocation of EU funds in Hungary is virtually impossible,” the lawmakers wrote.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
- Rick Ross says he 'can't wait to go back' to Vancouver despite alleged attack at festival
- A drunken boater forever changed this woman's life. Now she's on a mission.
- Already not seeking another term, North Carolina Sen. Perry resigns from chamber
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- When do new 'Bluey' episodes come out? Release date, time, where to watch
- The Kid Laroi goes Instagram official with Tate McRae in honor of singer's birthday
- Naomi Osaka wins at Wimbledon for the first time in 6 years, and Coco Gauff moves on, too
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- Google falling short of important climate target, cites electricity needs of AI
Ranking
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- 62-year-old woman arrested in death of Maylashia Hogg, a South Carolina teen mother-to-be
- France's far right takes strong lead in first round of high-stakes elections
- Officer who killed Tamir Rice leaves new job in West Virginia
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- MTV deletes news archives from internet, erasing over two decades of articles
- USPS raising stamp prices: Last chance to lock in Forever stamp rate ahead of increase
- In New York’s Finger Lakes Region, Long-Haul Garbage Trucks Trigger Town Resolutions Against Landfill Expansion
Recommendation
South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
Last known survivors of Tulsa Race Massacre challenge Oklahoma high court decision
The US will pay Moderna $176 million to develop an mRNA pandemic flu vaccine
US to pay for flights to help Panama remove migrants who may be heading north
The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
Bold and beautiful: James Wood’s debut latest dividend from Nationals' Juan Soto deal
Arby's brings back potato cakes for first time since 2021
Early Amazon Prime Day Deals 2024: Shop the Best Bedding and Linens Sales Available Now