The NGOs said they consider the law to be legally problematic and harmful to society, adding that it only served to undermine public trust in the organisations as well as their credibility.

“All this harms the right to privacy set down in the fundamental law, harms respect for laws governing the private sector, and violates the freedom of expression and association,” the NGOs said.

In reaction, Fidesz communication chief Balázs Hidvéghi said that “Soros-funded pro-migrant organisations” reject transparency because they do not want to declare from whom, and how much support, they receive from abroad. It undermines trust in the organisations that they refuse to admit whose interests they serve by helping migrants.

By refusing to register, the organisations not only break Hungarian law but also defy the opinion of Hungarians. In the last “national consultation” query, 99% of respondents supported the law on NGOs, Hidvéghi said.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.