Regularly, the EU Commission criticized the national-conservative Hungarian government of Viktor Orban. But the gloats. The Brussels criticism seems to be the Prime Minister to come out even.
Viktor Orban and the EU-Commission: The two are not easily connected to each other warm. No wonder: the head of The government wants to build open an “illiberal democracy”, and since the beginning of his second term, in 2010 (the first lasted from 1998 to 2002) he came to this goal is getting closer. Whether it was the media law, which he expanded state control of the press, judicial reform, he gängelte justice, or a law, with which the influence on the Central Bank, which has expanded every time the EU opened an infringement procedure against Hungary. Usually Orban gave in after some time, just as much as absolutely necessary, and some processes can run for years without consequences. Finally, it went to Orban’s unilateral cancellation of the EU-refugee policy.
The recent clashes revolve around two things: The Commission has opened up because of new requirements for non-governmental organisations in Hungary, a new procedure against Budapest, and in the case of the Hungarian law on higher education has already reached the next stage of the legal process.
Demonstration against Orban’s policies in Budapest
Amnesty wants to ignore the law
In the first case, Budapest has introduced a mandatory registration for NGOs, the more than 24,000 euros a year from abroad; the threshold is therefore very low. These NGOs aim to identify themselves in addition, everywhere, where they occur in public as an “organization that receives support from abroad”,. The Hungarian Parliament had adopted the law in June. According to the government, it should ensure more transparency and a contribution to the fight against money laundering and financing of Terrorism. The Commission, however, sees a violation of the EU Charter of fundamental rights, particularly freedom of Association. “We expect within a month a response of the Hungarian authorities,” said EU Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans. No response comes by then, or the opinion of the Commission is not satisfied, the Commission intends to launch infringement proceedings.
The new rules also Amnesty International is involved. Amnesty has already announced that the conditions to ignore, and is pleased about the Brussels support: “Hungary’s NGO law aims to stigmatize NGOs and to defame. In the present step, the Commission sends a strong Signal that such attacks on civil society in the European Union are unacceptable,” – said in a statement.
Anti-Soros Campaign
In the second case, a process has been running since April of this year. The Hungarian government had amended the higher education act. This applies to critics as a targeted measure against the “Central European University” in Budapest, which is this may. Founded in 1991, the Hungarian-born Jewish American billionaire George Soros. He also supports various human and civil rights groups in his old home.
Anti-Semitic Undertones? “Don’t let Soros laughs last”
The fight between Viktor Orban’s concept of an “illiberal democracy” and George Soros‘ “open society” has grow to be a kind of personal feud between the two men. Orban discomfited, even before a statewide campaign is not advertising. On the posters of a smiling Soros is not to be seen, including the saying: “Let Soros laughs last.” Some of the posters were daubed with slogans such as “stinking Jew”. Orban accuses Soros, to lure with his support of civil rights groups refugees to Hungary, what is the American billionaire denies. Soros has expressed shocked over “anti-Semitism” and “disinformation” of the Hungarian government and Orban accused of having a “mafia state” is established. Whether coincidence or not, on the same day as the Brussels Commission in their gait compared to Orban, announced by the Hungarian government for next Saturday, the end of the poster campaign – three days later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit.
Orban didn’t have much to worry about
While the Commission will not intervene in the matter with Soros, expected reply of the government to the offending laws. On the subject of NGOs is first of all just want to clarify. The higher education act, where the infringement procedure is already running, you must Budapest repair; if not, could sue the Commission to the European court of justice.
Also, it would be nothing out of the ordinary. Against Hungary more than 80 infringement procedures against Germany, by the way, twice as many. However, Hungary is also very fundamental things that make democracy and the rule of law in question. However, Orban has to fear any serious consequences. He need only look at the example of Poland: Against Poland, where the Commission sees an even more serious erosion of the rule of law, runs a so-called state of law procedures. Its consequences go well beyond the infringement procedure, because at the end of Poland even voting rights revoked. But this is rather theoretical, since all member States would have to agree. And, at least, a country should say no to: Hungary. In Hungary, in turn, Commission Vice-President Timmermans saw no systematic threat to the rule of law.
Juncker to Orban: “Hello, dictator”
That Orban has nothing to fear, members of his Fidesz party belong to the group of the European people’s party (EPP). All Attempts by other groups to urge the EPP to get thrown out of a Fidesz-people have failed. In a way, Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, Orban takes authoritarian tendencies even with a sense of Humor: At a summit in 2015, he welcomed Orban, with the words, “Hello, dictator.”