On Tuesday, Hungary’s ruling party introduced a draft law in Parliament that represents an unprecedented attack—not only on Hungary’s democratic fabric, but on the foundational values of the European Union itself. While framed as a “foreign funding” and “sovereignty protection” measure, the bill is in reality a blunt political weapon, designed to silence all forms of critical expression in the lead-up to the 2026 parliamentary elections.

For years, Liberties’ rule of law reports have documented how, under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Hungary has systematically dismantled democratic institutions. Systemic corruption, the transformation of public media into propaganda, the erosion of judicial independence, and the persecution of civil society and LGBTQI+ communities have all become routine features of the regime.

But this newly submitted bill marks an alarming escalation. It would essentially give the government sweeping powers to shut down any organization it labels as “foreign-influenced” or critical of the state—including civil society groups, independent media outlets, and even private businesses. It is a direct attack on the rule of law, on political pluralism, and on free expression potentially opening the door for other EU member states to adopt similar measures and to systematically dismantle the operational space and very existence of independent civil society organizations across the Union.

Balazs Denes, Executive Director at the Civil Liberties Union for Europe said:

“With Orbán’s party slipping in the polls and the opposition gaining ground, this proposal appears aimed at clearing the public sphere of dissent ahead of the next national elections. The bill’s provisions are not only authoritarian in nature—they are a blatant abuse of EU law and stand in fundamental contradiction to the principles of democracy, transparency, and human rights.If passed, this law would effectively erase what remains of Hungary’s democratic space. And if the European Commission, EU governments, and international institutions allow this to happen, they will be permitting a Putin-style authoritarian turn—inside the European Union.”

Liberties is calling on the European Commission and the governments of all EU member states to raise their voices in the strongest possible terms against this proposal. We urge them to take every possible measure to ensure that this attack on core EU values does not become law.

Further resources

• ECNL: An initial analysis of draft provisions and their potential impact
• An analysis prepared by the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and Amnesty International Hungary

Image Credit: Scott Webb Unplash