Hungary's Orban flags new legislation, crackdown on media over 'foreign funding'
Hungary's government will draft legislation to protect national sovereignty and uncover foreign funding channelled to Hungarian media, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday. President Donald Trump's decision to freeze most funds disbursed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has caused chaos for NGOs and humanitarian projects worldwide. The Hungarian leader aims to eliminate "foreign networks" of NGOs and media critical of his government.
- This move reflects a broader trend in authoritarian regimes, where governments seek to control information flows and limit external influences on domestic politics.
- What are the potential risks of such legislation for press freedom and democratic discourse in Hungary, and how might they impact the country's relationships with Western donors?