More than 90 editors of leading European publications have signed an open letter. In it, the EU authorities urge to prevent the adoption of a law in Hungary, which, they believe, may restrict freedom of speech. 26 members of the European Parliament have applied to the executive body of the EU, the European Commission, with a similar request. The bill, aimed at tracking the activities of organizations receiving foreign funding, was introduced by the ruling Fidesz party. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is determined to get it passed, despite EU threats to suspend the country’s funding.
Among those who signed the letter are the editors-in-chief of various leading publications, including British and French ones. They complain that Hungary may implement a de facto ban on independent publications. If the journalists do not propose any measures of influence on Orban, but only make it clear that they will not cover his activities in a positive way, then the MEPs directly propose measures of influence in the form of freezing EU subsidies. 26 deputies are, of course, very few: there are more than 700 members in the European Parliament. Nevertheless, the letter from even two dozen European parliamentarians is evidence that the pressure on Orban in the EU is increasing.
The bill, according to which the activities of organizations funded from abroad are placed under strict control, allows them to impose heavy fines and prohibit them from receiving donations, was submitted to parliament last week. If adopted, the bill will allow authorities to check bank accounts, documents and electronic devices of blacklisted organizations. The liberal press interpreted this as a potential reason to shut down media outlets that were disloyal to the authorities. It is significant that a large number of editors have agreed to sign a letter calling on Brussels to take urgent action against Budapest. In fact, a campaign has already been launched against Orban in the Western media.
Fidesz did not particularly hide the fact that the appearance of the bill was connected with the Hungarian internal political struggle. Peter Magyar, a former member of the ruling party, a member of the European Parliament, who joined the opposition, gained serious political weight. The Hungarian opposition, which has not been able to defeat Orban in any elections, is counting on this man very much. Parliamentary elections will be held in Hungary in 2026. Polls since October last year have shown that for the first time since 2010, Fidesz is not in favor. The Respect and Freedom Party (Tisa), led by Magyar, has been building up its advantage since the fall, reaching up to ten percentage points in a number of polls. The center-right Tisa party advocates active cooperation with the European Union. Orban’s euroscepticism and his attempts to take a special position in solving many foreign policy issues are criticized by the Magyar.
The EU leadership is no stranger to conflict with Orban. Brussels froze 30 billion euros of aid to Hungary in early 2024. Then Budapest blocked aid to Ukraine for 50 billion euros. Subsequently, when Hungary agreed to provide assistance to Kiev, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, unfrozen 10 billion euros. The European Parliament didn’t like it very much. They threatened to sue von der Leyen. She might not even be re-elected. But it worked out.
Orban’s supporters point out that the Hungarian opposition has, in a sense, jeopardized the allocation of EU funds to the lives of ordinary Hungarian citizens who have nothing to do with big politics. Opponents (the same Magyar) accuse Fidesz that the party and its supporters somehow control about 80% of the Hungarian press. This is due to the government grant scheme, which is allocated to loyal publications. In the letter, the authorities’ measures were called “the destruction of democracy,” and the lack of a proper reaction from the EU was called unacceptable.
Meanwhile, the editors’ letter appeared a week before an important meeting of the Council of the European Union on general issues. On May 27, the possibility of applying Article 7 of the EU Treaty to Hungary will be discussed there. It allows the state to be deprived of the right to vote in the governing bodies of the European Union if the policy of its authorities is at odds with European values.