News in Brief PM Orbán urges EU talks on NGO transparency Jul 22, 2020 The prime minister said the transparency of “EU-funded, politically engaged NGOs which attack their own governments in an unacceptable manner” should be discussed at a later date.
News in Brief Government Spokesperson pens letter to editor of POLITICO pointing out that Hungary’s civil society is doing just fine May 18, 2018 These critics, writes Kovács, make the same mistake. They claim that without them and their ideologically driven Soros-funded organizations, civil society ceases to exist
Blog Brussels shoots itself in the foot with crackdown on Hungarian NGO transparency Oct 12, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács Their credibility just took another blow. It’s difficult to take seriously this latest move by the European Commission.
Blog Guess who else is concerned about foreign funding of NGOs Jun 26, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács Friends in North America have commented recently on Hungary’s new NGO law. In a tweet sent on the day of the law’s passage, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland called it “disappointing news” and reminded us that Canada “values transparency & civil society as key facets of healthy democratic societies.”
News in Brief Hungarians have decided that they do not want illegal immigrants in their country Jun 16, 2017 PM Orbán insisted that “record high” participation in the government’s latest nationwide public survey means that “a whole nation is looking for ways to support its position of denying entry to people of a different culture or civilization”
News in Brief President Ader signs new law governing NGOs in Hungary Jun 16, 2017 The president referred to civil organizations as “indispensable and respectable” players of a democracy. He said that Hungary had over 56,000 civil organizations and insisted that 99 percent of them would be left unaffected by the new legislation
News in Brief Hungary's Parliament passes new law on transparency of NGOs funded from abroad Jun 14, 2017 Under the new law organizations are required to state that they qualify as organizations funded from abroad on their official website and publications
News in Brief PM Orbán: The only network which “operates like a mafia” in Hungary is run by George Soros Jun 02, 2017 Soros’s network and its "agencies" were “a significant and non-transparent component of Hungary’s public life”. Soros and “his supporters in Hungary” were seeking to implement “a program to allow migrants into the country," the prime minister said
News in Brief Hungary open to constructive dialog with Council of Europe over NGOs and transparency May 09, 2017 Hungary's Parliamentary Speaker said it is important to underline that Hungary recognizes the significant contribution of non-governmental organizations to the promotion of common values and goals. These organizations also play an important role in the democratic control of the government and shaping public opinion
Blog Prominent US and European think tanks taken in by the “NGO crackdown” ruse Mar 21, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács The government of Hungary is not the only one concerned about foreign meddling to influence domestic political outcomes, and we’re not the only ones who believe that it’s the citizens’ right to know.
News in Brief Hungarians should decide their future not Brussels Feb 14, 2017 The Hungarian government wants the people to decide on issues that define their future rather than “Brussels sneaking in legislation”
News in Brief WATCH VIDEO: Hungary's foreign minister says people should know if NGOs are funded from abroad Jan 31, 2017 The foreign minister said there was a clear demand for politics to be transparent. He argued that in this case transparency should be demanded of all organizations that influence public affairs, including NGOs, “because the people have a right to know whom these NGOs, whom these organizations actually represent”
News in Brief PM Orbán: Interests of NGOs must be made public Jan 16, 2017 The Hungarian government has said there must be transparency of civil society organizations and everyone has the right to know who is trying to influence public discourse