Hungary’s Orbán With Russia-Style Law Launching Crackdown On Dissent

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Despite ongoing protests, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party introduced a bill that critics say will lead to a Russia-style crackdown on critics.

The legislation submitted to parliament will blacklist organizations such as media and human rights groups that receive foreign financing and curtail their activities if they are viewed as “a threat to Hungary’s sovereignty.”

In March, Orbán pledged to crack down on foreign funding of independent media, opposition politicians, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

During a national holiday rally on March 15, he told his supporters in Budapest, “After today’s festive gathering comes the Easter cleaning. The stink bugs have overwintered.”

He warned: “We will dismantle the financial machine that has used corrupt dollars to buy politicians, judges, journalists, pseudo-NGOs, and political activists. We will eliminate the entire shadow army.”

Wednesday’s submitted legislation seemed part of that pledge ahead of the 2016 elections, when Orbán faces an unprecedented challenge from the new opposition party Tisza, named after Hungary’s second-largest river.

PRIMACY OF MARRIAGE

The legislation would allow the Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO) to draw up a list of foreign-funded legal entities whose activities are considered to”undermine Hungary’s independent, democratic and rule-of-law-based character” or violate Hungary’s constitutional identity or Christian culture.

Challenging the primacy of traditional marriage, the family, and biological sexes would also be considered a threat.

Organisations on the list will have their bank accounts monitored, and funds from abroad considered a threat can be blocked.

If the bill is passed, authorities can enter organisations’ offices and examine their documents and electronic devices.

If an organisation accepts foreign money, it must pay a fine of 25 times the actual funding received. It must cease operations if it cannot pay the fine within 15 days.

The bill was condemned by opposition politicians and independent journalists, likening it to Russia’s so-called “Foreign Agents Law”.

HUNGARY’S ‘RUSSIAN LAW’

Russia first adopted legislation in 2012 allowing authorities to label foreign-funded groups as foreign agents.

Now, a similar bill was introduced in Hungary, while Tisza leader Péter Magyar launched the “1 million steps for peace” march from the steps of the St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest to Romania’s city of Oradea against Orbán’s “autocratic” and “pro-Russia policies.”

“God help me,” Magyar concluded his address to thousands of supporters on Wednesday at the start of the 300-kilometer (186-mile) march toward neighboring Romania.

The march was also held to protest Orbán’s support for an ultranationalist candidate in Sunday’s presidential election in Romania.

Orbán’s backing for George Simion prompted a backlash even in the Hungarian diaspora, potentially jeopardizing the Hungarian leader’s election chances next year.

Romania is home to more than 1 million ethnic Hungarians, many with dual nationality, who have been a crucial source of support for Orbán.

But many have reportedly been furious by his recent endorsement of Simion, who they view as a pro-Russia populist with a history of physical and verbal violence against Hungarian speakers.

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