The Hungarian authorities plan to develop additional defence mechanisms against external interference in the country’s domestic politics – as noted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, TASS reports
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During an appearance on the morning programme of the Kossuth radio station, the Hungarian PM recalled that the new US administration had decided to stop the use of US aid programmes, including through the Agency for International Development (USAID), to exert political influence on other countries. Mr. Orban noted that the money was used by the US, particularly in Hungary, to finance ‘civilians, media, journalists, and politicians’ opposed to the current government.
He believes that we need to get to the bottom of how the system worked, how it influenced government and parliamentary decisions, as well as public opinion.
“If we all realise this, we need to urgently create and put in place protection mechanisms,” Mr. Orban stressed.
Some such mechanisms have already been established in Hungary. For example, since December 2023, the country has had a law that makes foreign funding of political parties an offence and imposes a penalty of up to three years’ imprisonment. The Office for the Defence of National Sovereignty is tasked with monitoring compliance with the ban and collecting information on possible violators.