The “Sovereignty Law” has been in effect in Hungary since December. According to the government, it is intended to protect against election influences from abroad. However, the EU sees this as a threat to democracy and is once again taking action against Hungary.
The EU Commission is once again accusing Hungary of violating European law with a law and is therefore initiating proceedings. The “Law for the Defense of National Sovereignty” recently passed in the Hungarian Parliament violates, among other things, principles of democracy, freedom of expression and freedom of association, the Brussels authority said. She therefore asked Hungary for a statement and thus initiated so-called infringement proceedings.
New authority with “far-reaching powers”
The law passed in December also established a new “Office for Sovereignty Protection.” The task of the newly created authority is to “identify and investigate organizations that receive funding from abroad and aim to influence the will of voters.” The existing ban on party financing from abroad has been extended to include clubs and other organizations.
“The creation of a new authority with far-reaching powers and a strict monitoring and sanctions regime risks causing serious damage to democracy in Hungary,” said a Commission spokeswoman in Brussels.
Orban: “We want to buy the country by the kilo”
Hungary now has to respond to the allegations within two months. If the country cannot refute it, the EU Commission can take legal action against Hungary before the European Court of Justice. If convicted, the country would then face a fine if it continued to adhere to the law.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced the “sovereignty law” at a party conference of his Fidesz party last November, justifying the fact that foreigners allegedly wanted to “buy the future Hungarian government and with it the country by the kilo.” The Hungarian government repeatedly accuses the EU and organizations from the USA and other countries of distributing “billions of euros” to the opposition.
Parallels to Russian law
In recent weeks, several EU parliamentarians have strongly criticized the law – as a further step towards a society inspired by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The USA had also sharply criticized the “sovereignty law” and the new authority. It has “a mandate of breathtaking proportions,” said the US ambassador to Hungary, David Pressman. In comparison, the Russian law on “foreign agents” seems mild. According to Western assessments, the Kremlin is thus suppressing civil society in Russia.
It is not the first time that the EU Commission, which is responsible for compliance with EU law, has initiated proceedings against the country due to concerns about the state of the rule of law. In December, however, it also released ten billion euros in frozen funds for Hungary on the grounds that the Hungarian head of government had implemented the necessary reforms.
Orban has ruled Hungary uninterruptedly since 2010 and, according to EU partners, has since then increasingly restricted press freedom and fundamental rights.
With information from Matthias Reiche, ARD Brussels
Matthias Reiche, ARD Brussels, tagesschau, February 7, 2024 3:14 p.m