The Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO) has confirmed that foreign-funded political pressure operations in Hungary received at least HUF 23 billion in support between 2022 and February 2025.
The organization is particularly active in central and eastern Europe, especially in Poland and Hungary.
The Sovereignty Protection Office has identified Internews as a key conduit for funneling U.S. public funds into Hungarian media.
The Sovereignty Protection Office's 16-page report presented in detail "how a comprehensive international network helped US public monies get converted into "private money", then "domestic money".
For years, Hungary has warned that USAID is not merely a development agency but a tool of U.S. political influence.
The Sovereignty Protection Office said 5.5 million US dollars were sent to Hungary through US-registered Action for Democracy (A4D).
The network that influenced Hungary's 2022 parliamentary elections from abroad remains active today and is working towards escalating the war in Ukraine, according to a report released by the Sovereignty Protection Office on Wednesday.
In calling for scrapping the sovereignty protection law, the Venice Commission is clearly seeking to strip Hungary of the tools to protect its national autonomy and to stand up against foreign attempts of influence.
Tamás Lánczi said it was important to note that the organization was not an authority but an office, and as such, it would not mount investigations or issue sanctions.
Tamás Lánczi said the new body will aim to “protect the country’s economic, cultural, communication and political identity and independence."
The bill submitted by ruling party MPs was passed with 140 votes in favor and 50 against.
Bence Tuzson said the country’s sovereignty was one of the most important tasks in Hungary today.
The bill states that Hungarian sovereignty “is increasingly under illegal attack”, and that the 2022 general election campaign of the opposition was influenced by foreign financing.