US State Department expresses concern over law on foreign-funded NGOs – UPDATE
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The US State Department expressed concern over legislation Hungary’s parliament recently adopted on foreign-funded NGOs, in a statement released on its website.
The statement concerns the law the national assembly passed last Tuesday requiring civil groups receiving foreign donations above a threshold of 7.2 million forints (EUR 23,400) per year to register with a court as organisations funded from abroad.
Hungary’s president signed the law on June 16.
In a statement issued on Monday, the State Department said the new law “unfairly burdens and targets Hungarian civil society, which is working to fight corruption and protect civil liberties”.
“By portraying groups supported with foreign funding as acting against the interests of Hungarian society, this legislation would weaken the ability of Hungarians to organize and address concerns in a legitimate and democratic manner,” said the statement.
The State Department gave warning that the legislation would qualify as “another step away from Hungary’s commitments to uphold the principles and values that are central to the EU and NATO”.
The government spokesman’s office responded to the statement saying that “Soros organisations would never be allowed to do in the US what they do in Europe.” The US State Department’s statement is “yet another striking example of the double standards” being applied to Hungary, the office said in a statement, arguing that the US has “far stricter” rules in place for organisations receiving support from abroad.
Seems a little strange to me that the State Dept. would be saying this. Please keep in mind that it seems to me that Obama holdovers are still running the office. I am in New York and it also looks to me that Mr. Soros is the one doing much of funding of U.S. based Hungarian-American Organizations here. Prominent Hungarian-American Republicans here also seem to be in the so-called “never Trump” camp. The President and The Secretary of State have their hands full right now as well. Who is Hungary’s friend in the U.S. right now? Much of diaspora is on the side of Soros generally – they are liberals and their numbers are high on the coasts where the Democrats live. Places like Cleveland is where Hungarian-Americans will show the Hungarian Government the greatest support when it comes to traditional minded ideas. Must be a little frustrating for the Hungarian Government right now – in time, I think folks here will understand.