Furthering Conflict with George Soros, Hungary Tightens Rules on Foreign-Funded NGOs

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Furthering Conflict with George Soros, Hungary Tightens Rules on Foreign-Funded NGOs

Hungary's parliament approved on Tuesday strict new rules for non-government organisations with foreign funding in a further escalation of the government's conflict with Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros.

Defying calls from the European Parliament and human rights groups to drop the bill, it passed a law drafted by right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government that requires NGOs that get money from abroad to register with the authorities.

The government says it wants to ensure greater transparency and protect Hungary from foreign influence, but NGOs and human rights groups say the bill stigmatises them and is intended to stifle independent voices in the central European country. . .