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“Democracy in Hungary belongs to the people, not to foreign powers or their representatives”, wrote Kinga Gál, chair of the Fidesz–KDNP group in the European Parliament (EP), and Tamás Deutsch, head of the delegation, in a letter addressed to MEPs.
The letter stated that recent scandals at the European Union have highlighted the excessive influence of political lobby groups, which claim to represent civil society but in fact serve political ends.
Investigations in recent years and information that has come to light have revealed that organizations based primarily in the U.S. and Brussels have provided millions of dollars in support to Hungarian activist groups and media outlets that openly pursue left-wing liberal ideological goals, they emphasized.
These organizations spread propaganda that is contrary to Hungary’s national interests. Based on lies and distorted facts, they have created a narrative that has laid the groundwork for political and legal attacks against our country. Their goal was clearly to weaken Hungary’s border protection capabilities and prevent Hungarians from accessing EU funds to which they are entitled,”
the politicians said.
They added that following the USAID scandal, no one can turn a blind eye to this reality anymore, and clear boundaries must be set: foreign-funded organizations can no longer operate behind the scenes in Hungary.
Just like all European citizens, Hungarians have the right to know who finances organizations that exert political influence in their country, they pointed out.
According to the authors of the letter, just as European Union rules prohibit foreign funding of political parties, non-party actors must also be subject to scrutiny if their activities have an impact on public decision-making.
They also outlined that on May 13, a bill on transparency in public life was submitted to the Hungarian Parliament. The aim of the new draft law is to protect national sovereignty against hidden foreign influence in public life. The proposal creates a new regulatory framework for organizations that receive foreign funding and actively shape Hungarian political discourse, they added.
The proposal focuses on a newly created register: organizations that influence Hungarian public life—for example, by representing interests during election periods, lobbying on legislative matters, or seeking to shape public opinion—will be required to register if they receive financial support from abroad.
According to the letter, these organizations will be required to obtain official permission before accepting foreign funds, and their leaders will have to submit public declarations of assets.
According to Kinga Gál and Tamás Deutsch, the bill draws inspiration from U.S. practice, in particular the Foreign Agents Registration Act, but the Hungarian version offers more sophisticated and significantly milder regulations.
In the United States, foreign-funded organizations are also required to register and be subject to official supervision if they are under the influence of foreign powers.
“In today’s geopolitical situation, the protection of sovereignty is no longer a theoretical question, but a practical necessity. Hungary’s new law sets a precedent for protecting democratic institutions from external influence and strengthens the nation’s right to self-determination. Ultimately, Hungary’s transparency law is not only a legal instrument but also a clear political statement: Hungarian democracy is accountable only to the Hungarian people,” the politicians wrote in the letter.
Via MTI; Featured photo: MTI/Bodnár Boglárka