Hungary edges closer to Russia: Orbán’s “spring clean-up” bill threatens civil society and press freedom
The Hungarian government, led by Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party, has introduced a sweeping new law that critics say is aimed at silencing dissent and consolidating power—drawing stark parallels with authoritarian regimes like Russia. Titled “On the Transparency of Public Life”, the bill was quietly submitted to Parliament just before midnight on 13 May by Fidesz MP János Halász. Though presented as a measure to protect Hungary’s sovereignty, it appears designed to target NGOs, independent media, and opposition voices receiving foreign funding.
Foreign support branded as a threat
Under the bill, the newly formed Sovereignty Protection Office (Szuverenitásvédelmi Hivatal) would have broad powers to investigate and effectively blacklist organisations it deems a threat to national sovereignty, Telex reports. This includes any civil group or company receiving foreign funding to “influence public life”—a vague term encompassing anything from journalism and advocacy to social programs and education.
If listed, organisations would face severe restrictions:
- They would lose access to Hungary’s 1% personal income tax donation scheme.
- They must demand formal declarations from every supporter attesting that no donations originate from abroad.
- Any alleged breach could lead to fines up to 25 times the foreign donation amount, payable within 15 days.
- Their leaders, founders, and supervisory board members would be forced to file public asset declarations identical to those of MPs.
- The organisation and its leadership would be treated as “prominent public figures” under anti-terrorism financing laws.
These groups could also be subjected to unannounced, on-site inspections by the Sovereignty Office, which would have the right to examine documents, hard drives, and even copy data—with police support if necessary.
What constitutes a “threat”?
The law outlines a shockingly broad definition of activities that could be considered harmful to sovereignty. According to 444.hu, these include anything that negatively portrays:
- Hungary’s democratic and constitutional character;
- National unity and the fate of ethnic Hungarians living abroad;
- Traditional family values and binary gender roles;
- Peace and cooperation with other nations;
- Hungary’s Christian culture and constitutional identity.
The bill even cites influencing public opinion or democratic debate as potentially dangerous—effectively criminalising the core functions of a free press and civil society.
Orbán’s open hostility toward dissent
This legislative move follows Orbán’s inflammatory speech on 15 March, in which he labelled critical civil groups, journalists, judges defending judicial independence, and opposition politicians as “overwintering stinkbugs” funded by foreign actors. “We’ve had enough of them. A spring wind is coming to sweep them away,” he said, adding that “a scarlet letter marks them… their fate is shame and contempt… and if there’s justice—and there is—they’ll have their own corner in hell.”
While these remarks sparked backlash from psychologists, judges, and academics, there was no official condemnation from the President or Prosecutor’s Office.
Orbán leading Hungary towards a Russian-style crackdown?
When the Sovereignty Protection Office was established in 2023, its function was vague. But with this bill, its role becomes clear: a central tool for persecuting groups deemed politically inconvenient. Critics argue that the law uses the language of transparency and national security to wage a coordinated attack on Hungary’s democratic institutions.
The government insists the legislation is justified by alleged sovereignty violations uncovered in recent years, citing outcomes from national consultations. But in practice, it creates an environment where independent voices can be surveilled, fined, and dismantled—mirroring tactics used by Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
If passed, the law would come into effect just three days after its adoption. It marks yet another step in Hungary’s slide away from European democratic norms, raising serious concerns in Brussels and beyond. In the name of sovereignty, Orbán may be burying Hungary’s democracy under layers of fear, control, and silence.
Read more news about the Hungarian government HERE. As for news about Viktor Orbán, click HERE.
Read also:
- Hungarian spy scandal in Ukraine: did Hungarian intelligence gather military data for Moscow?
- Orbán accuses political rival of being a foreign agent – Is TISZA Party facing exclusion?
Brilliant story on the wonderful work the many Soros Funded NGO s who fund other NGOs to hide any direct link.
If you look at the damage Soros has done to justice in the US- the richest and most powerful country in the west- imagine what he can do to little Hungary. Some of the biggest cities are boarded up thanks to Soros inc. how long could merchants last here if stealing is kept to a under 1000 $
George Soros’s name is invoked so often in politics—especially in conspiracy theories and right-wing rhetoric—for several reasons:
1. His Wealth and Influence
Soros is a billionaire philanthropist who donates large sums of money to liberal and progressive causes, often through his Open Society Foundations. He supports democracy, human rights, criminal justice reform, media freedom, and education—especially in Eastern Europe and the United States.
Because of his financial support for progressive movements, he’s viewed by some on the political right as a powerful antagonist behind a wide array of left-leaning policies and movements, such as:
Immigration reform
Racial justice protests (e.g., Black Lives Matter)
Criminal justice reform (e.g., funding reform-minded district attorneys)
2. His Global Reach
Soros’s involvement in international affairs—like funding anti-corruption campaigns, supporting democratic movements in post-Soviet states, or backing media watchdogs—makes him a visible figure in global politics. This makes it easy to claim he’s meddling in domestic politics, even in places far from his base of operations.
3. Anti-Semitism
Soros is Jewish and a Holocaust survivor. Many of the conspiracy theories involving him play into long-standing anti-Semitic tropes about secretive, wealthy Jews controlling governments and the media. While not all criticism of Soros is anti-Semitic, many of the conspiracy narratives surrounding him have clear anti-Semitic undertones or origins.
4. A Useful Scapegoat
Blaming a single, recognizable individual—especially one who is foreign-born, Jewish, wealthy, and politically active—offers a simple explanation for complex social changes. Soros has become a boogeyman figure in populist and authoritarian rhetoric, often blamed for civil unrest, migrant flows, election outcomes, or judicial decisions.
5. He’s Private but High-Profile
Despite his massive influence through donations and foundations, Soros rarely appears in public life. This combination of visibility without personal exposure helps conspiracy theories flourish—people project onto him whatever they need him to be.
Bottom line: Soros is frequently invoked in politics not just because of his real influence, but because he fits into a narrative structure that’s useful for populist, nationalist, and anti-globalist rhetoric.
George Soros is not literally “destroying cities”—but this phrase is often used rhetorically by critics, particularly in U.S. right-wing media and politics, to refer to his support for progressive criminal justice reform, especially his funding of reform-minded district attorneys (DAs).
Here’s what’s actually going on, and why the claim is made:
🔹 What Soros Is Actually Doing
1. Funding Progressive Prosecutors:
Soros, through his network of political action committees and donations, has supported campaigns for district attorneys who advocate for:
Reducing mass incarceration
Ending cash bail for low-level offenses
Declining to prosecute certain nonviolent crimes
Emphasizing rehabilitation over punishment
Examples include DAs like:
Larry Krasner (Philadelphia)
Kim Foxx (Chicago)
George Gascón (Los Angeles)
Chesa Boudin (San Francisco, later recalled)
These prosecutors generally align with criminal justice reform movements that seek to address systemic racism, over-policing, and over-incarceration.
🔹 Why Critics Say He’s “Destroying Cities”
Critics, especially from conservative circles, argue that the policies supported by these DAs have led to:
Rising crime rates, especially property crimes and drug-related offenses
Demoralized police forces
Lack of accountability for repeat offenders
Decline in quality of life in major urban areas
They link these outcomes to Soros’s influence, saying he “bought” DAs who are “soft on crime,” thereby “destroying” cities through policy choices.
🔹 The Evidence Is Mixed
Some cities with reformist DAs have seen increases in certain types of crime—but so have cities without such DAs, especially post-pandemic. Crime trends are influenced by many factors (e.g., COVID-19 disruptions, economic instability, policing practices), not just DA policy.
Studies and data on the impact of progressive prosecutors show complex, nuanced results. Some reforms have had success in reducing incarceration without increasing crime. Others have faced backlash and legal or political pushback.
🔹 The Bigger Picture
The claim that Soros is “destroying cities” is a politicized exaggeration, rooted more in ideological conflict than in hard data. It’s used as a rhetorical shortcut to criticize:
Liberal criminal justice policies
Perceived elite interference in local politics
Broader social changes related to race, inequality, and policing
It also sometimes veers into conspiratorial or dog-whistle territory, especially when tied to Soros’s identity and background.
In short: The idea that Soros is “destroying cities” is a political slogan. He has funded criminal justice reforms through DA elections, which critics blame for urban decline. The real situation is more complicated, and involves policy debates about safety, fairness, and accountability.
The Nazis need to be removed from office. Hungarians you need to take back your freedom and restore democracy. The rest of us in the “decadent West” can look from a distance and just shake our heads at how you let your country go down the hole of a Balkan toilet.
Hi GenAI, what can you tell me about George Soros, the Soros Organization, Mr. Orbán’s graduate work in England, and former employer before founding Fidesz?
The 5XL dictator is faring very poorly in all opinion polls, he is very likely to lose next year’s elections. If he loses, the whole mafia system he carefully built will collapse, his autocrat friends will abandon him, his family gang will lose contracts, his downfall will be inevitable. In few words: he simply cannot afford to lose. That explains the fictitious “spy-war” with Ukraine, and this shameful bill designed to silence all oppositions. I would not be surprised if Peter Magyar gets arrested out of whichever fabricated accusation or if Fidesz runs alone next year. Certainly Hungary is doomed, and becoming again a one-party state is just around the corner.
An NGO that receives government funding is not an NGO. The Soros NGOs we’re funded by the Biden and Obama administrations, as well as the last US activist ambassador to Hungary appointed by Biden to stick fingers into Hungary’s and Orbán’s eyes.
The US State Department-funded anti Fidesz media in Hungary through Soros’ NGOs at Biden’s command.
Hungarian-US relations collapsed under Biden and US Democrats, a criminal party that had accused Republicans, and prosecuted them, particularly Donald Trump, for the very crimes the Democrats were committing.
And that is the same story with Orbán’s opposition.
Nice conspiracy theory you have there. All BS though. Try to come up with something better and at least one credible source for your claims.