The report said that after its victory in the 2014 general election, the ruling Fidesz party continued to enact laws quickly, as it had done in the past, by circumventing procedural regulations. It noted an increased range of laws that require a supermajority to pass.

Any opposition party coming to power in the future would have its hands tied by the ruling party’s officials with long mandates heading independent institutions.

The report noted with concern statements by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán regarding Hungary as an illiberal democracy. Referring to an attempt to create an “illiberal state”, the organisation questioned the government’s commitment to democratic values.

In the category of electoral process, the human rights watchdog cited changes to the electoral law which it said disproportionately favoured the dominant party. It said critics described the 2014 general election as “free but unfair” and it noted OSCE concerns about a lack of balanced media coverage.

Hungary’s civil society score also declined. Civil society in Hungary depends on government funds, it said, insisting these “are handed out in a partisan manner”.

In 2014 government rhetoric became increasingly hostile toward NGOs, with officials portraying them as paid political activists, the report said.

The report said political and economic pressures have significantly damaged press freedom. Regarding judicial independence, the rights group said that by the end of 2014 11 of the 15 justices of the Constitutional Court were appointed by the ruling coalition.

The report also said “close ties between political and economic elites remain a major source of corruption.” The government continued to serve the business interests of “friends and clients and to manipulate public procurement”.

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