The Hungarian government will draft legislation to protect the country’s sovereignty and, following the example of the new US government, will uncover foreign funding channelled to Hungarian media, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday, the 24th of February, reports Reuters.
After becoming President, Donald Trump froze funds from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for 90 days and tasked Elon Musk with scaling back the agency.
Trump’s actions prompted Orban, a long-time Trump ally, to announce on the 7th of February that he wanted to close down all “foreign networks” of NGOs and media outlets critical of his government.
“The corruption network that is prevalent in the whole world of Western politics and media must be eradicated,” Orban told the opening session of parliament on Monday, adding that his government would do whatever it took to implement the new laws.
The Hungarian leader, who faces challenges to his government from a new, fast-rising opposition party ahead of elections in 2026, pointed to the crackdown on NGOs and media outlets that have received funding from the US and billionaire George Soros.
“We have a lot of information on this, but there are still some gaps… We have uncovered several channels through which hundreds of millions of forints were transferred to Hungarian media and organisations,” Orban said.
“I THEREFORE PROPOSE TO PARLIAMENT … TO PASS THE LAWS NECESSARY TO PROTECT OUR SOVEREIGNTY, BUT WHICH ARE STILL MISSING.” HE DID NOT GO INTO DETAIL ON WHAT THE NEW LEGISLATION WOULD ENTAIL.
While USAID provides billions of dollars in humanitarian aid, it is also involved in many other projects, including those aimed at strengthening civil society and democracy around the world.
In late 2022, USAID launched new programmes in Central Europe, supporting local initiatives to strengthen democratic institutions and independent media.
Orban has transformed Hungary’s media landscape over the past 14 years. State media have come under full government control and a number of private media have been closed down or taken over by government-friendly owners. Tight control of the media has helped Orban to win the last three elections by a landslide.