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US Ambassador to Hungary Sounds Alarm on "Sovereignty Protection" Bill

• 21 Nov 2023 12:08 PM
• Budapest Business Journal

The U.S. Ambassador to Hungary said a proposal by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to target media and civic groups was potentially “very dangerous” as the leader prepares to unveil the latest crackdown on independent institutions, according to Bloomberg News.

Orbán’s government has signaled it will move ahead with a “sovereignty protection” package targeting foreign-funded political groups, media and NGOs, with potential prison terms for those who run afoul.

Although the cabinet pledged to unveil details this week, it has yet to file the legislation with parliament.

“To the extent that this bill may seek to criminalize and or intimidate independent civil society and media organizations, that is very dangerous, and I hope that’s not the path that Hungary chooses to go down,” Ambassador David Pressman told reporters.

He said the United States would take a “close look” at the bill once it is published.

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Budapest Business Journal

Hungary's largest and oldest source of business and financial news in English. Since 1992 it has presented essential information on Hungarian business life, including international analyses about the country. These days the BBJ newspaper is published every other week, while it releases daily business news online including premium paid content.

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