BUDAPEST: The Hungarian government unveiled a tougher version of its package of planned laws targeting NGOs funded by the American billionaire George Soros on Tuesday.
As in the original version of the law drafted last month, a tax of 25 percent would be levied on foreign funding given to organisations considered to be “supporting” illegal immigration.
The new draft also retains provisions banning entry to Hungary for foreigners suspected of supporting the entry of asylum seekers, and for preventing Hungarian citizens from approaching the country’s border regions if they are similarly suspected.
In addition, the latest version would see NGOs having to undergo a “check” by the security services before being authorized to operate.
He acknowledged that this particular measure would need a two-thirds majority in parliament. Analysts say this makes it unlikely the proposals will progress any further before parliamentary elections on 8 April, where Orban is expected to win a third term in office.
Twenty-four Hungarian NGOs condemned the original proposals in January as “dishonest” and said the real target was not Soros but domestic criticism of the government.
Soros has donated to several NGOs in Hungary supporting civil society. He rejects the accusations leveled at him by the government, calling them “distortions and outright lies” and based in part on anti-Semitic tropes.
