More than 80 editors from major European news organizations have signed a petition demanding the withdrawal of proposed Hungarian legislation that would restrict media and rights groups receiving foreign funding.
The legislation, introduced by Orban’s Fidesz party last week, would create a public registry of organizations receiving financial support from abroad. The government would have the power to limit or shut down these groups if they are deemed a threat to Hungary or its cultural identity.
In their petition, published Tuesday, the editors accused Fidesz of “adopting the very same authoritarian tactics seen” in Russia under President Vladimir Putin.
The signatories also warned that the health of independent journalism in Hungary is part of a broader European concern, especially “in a region where an increasing number of populist leaders are adopting Viktor Orban’s methods.” The petition was endorsed by 84 senior editors representing a wide range of prominent outlets including The Guardian (UK), Libération (France), Gazeta Wyborcza (Poland), ORF (Austria), SME (Slovakia), and Hospodárske Noviny (Czech Republic).
The editors called on national governments and European Union bodies to intervene and stop the proposed law, stating it runs counter to EU treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Hungarian lawmakers are expected to begin debating the bill on Tuesday, with a vote scheduled for mid-June. Given Fidesz’s absolute majority in parliament, the bill is widely expected to pass.
In March, Orban announced a crackdown on foreign funding of independent media and opposition parties.
