A little more than a year before the next general elections scheduled to take place in April 2026, emboldened by the developments in the US, the Orbán government once again is stepping up its campaign against civil society (and independent media) with the apparent purpose to further demonise and deter organisations and activists.
Since January, the Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO) has been spewing out various reports and papers practically every second week, including one specifically on the CERV programme and another to USAID support to Hungarian organisations. Tamás Lánczi, head of the SPO repeatedly stated that his office needs more powers, which would in effect mean turning it into a real authority.
After several hints in earlier interviews, at his annual „state of Hungary” speech in mid-February, the Prime Minister
- warned the organisers of Pride not to “waste” time and energy to organise this year’s event, implying a ban on the parade
- talked about the need to cut off the funding of “pseudo-civic pressure organisations serving foreign interests” and “Brussels”
- raised the possibility of creating an “inverse” Magnitsky Act to ban persons who threaten Hungary’s “sovereignty”.
These were repeated and further escalated in his address delivered on the national holiday of 15 March, when Orbán talked about judges, opposition politicians, journalists and activists as “overwintering stink bugs” which need to be “cleared away”.
At the same time, various governmental politicians have also reinforced this message, made further comments in the same direction, and mentioned other possible measures, including an obligation for CSO leaders to declare their assets, similar to politicians.
Eventually, on the night of 11 March, a draft amendment to the Fundamental Law (the constitution) initiated by Fidesz was published on the Parliament’s website. While it is not directed against CSOs as such, it “translates” Orbán’s points into legislation by introducing provisions e.g.
“The citizenship of a Hungarian citizen who is also a citizen of another state -with the exception of nationals of states with the right of free movement and residence – may be suspended for a fixed period in accordance with the provisions of a cardinal law.”
“(…). A person is either a man or a woman. The father is male, the mother is female.”
“Every child has the right to education (…) This right, with the exception of the right to life, shall precede all other fundamental human rights.” (Implying that e.g. freedom of assembly may be restricted on this basis.)
These constitutional statements will of course still need to be operationalised and detailed in concrete acts. This has already started with an amendment of the Assembly Act that creates a legal basis for effectively banning Pride which was pushed through the parliament in an extraordinary fast-track process in one day on 18 March.
These developments are more than worrying and have created an atmosphere of insecurity for many. CSO united in the Civilisation coalition monitor developments closely, discuss their potential implications, and provide mutual support and solidarity to one another. We will keep our European partners posted about any next steps.