Hungary’s ruling party Fidesz, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has decided to postpone a vote on a controversial bill that would impose penalties on organizations receiving foreign funding, The Guardian reports.
The parliamentary vote was initially expected to take place in mid-June. Despite strong criticism, the bill was likely to pass, as Fidesz holds a two-thirds majority in parliament. However, the initiative has now been delayed until autumn. Fidesz parliamentary leader Máté Kocsis said the decision was made due to numerous proposed amendments to the draft law.
The bill would allow the government to monitor, penalize, and potentially ban organizations that receive any foreign funding — including donations or grants from the United States or the European Union. According to government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács, the law was developed out of concern about the influence of foreign money on domestic politics. The bill also includes provisions aimed at “protecting Christian culture” and traditional values.
