Introduction
Ruling Fidesz Party Wins EU Election in Hungary, But Faces New Challenge
On 9th June 2024, Viktor Orbán's right-wing Fidesz party came out on top in the European elections in Hungary, securing 44.82% of the vote. Although victorious, Fidesz lost two of its 13 seats in the European Parliament.
The elections marked a political shift with the emergence of the new TISZA (Respect and Freedom) party, led by former Fidesz insider Péter Magyar. TISZA captured nearly 30% of the vote and seven seats, positioning itself as the largest opposition force. Meanwhile, the liberal Momentum party lost both its seats, and the left-wing Democratic Coalition saw its support halved.
In local elections held on the same day, Fidesz secured most counties and half of the major cities, though without a decisive victory. Orbán celebrated the results, pledging continued dominance, while Magyar described the outcome as a “political earthquake” and heralded a new chapter in Hungarian politics.
European Court Fines Hungary Over Asylum Policy
On 13th June 2024, the European Court of Justice fined Hungary €200 million for failing to comply with the EU's asylum policies. The Court also imposed an additional fine of €1 million for each day Hungary delays implementing the required changes. According to the Court, Hungary is in breach of a 2020 judgement by unlawfully detaining asylum seekers and denying them the right to remain in the country until their appeals are exhausted. The Court labelled Hungary’s defiance of EU policy as “unprecedented” and a severe infringement of EU law.
Hungary Takes over Rotating EU Presidency
On 1st July 2024, Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the European Council, taking charge of coordinating the Council’s work, influencing the agenda and legislative priorities. The country will hold this position for the next six months. The presidency comes at a time when European leaders are worried and concerned about Hungary's policies. Though Budapest promises to be an “honest broker”, its critics see the government as authoritarian and Russia-friendly. The programme slogan of the Hungarian presidency is “Make Europe Great Again” - a not so subtle play on former US president Donald Trump’s campaign motto - which has already led to many discussions in Brussels. Among the priorities of the presidency are stemming “illegal migration” and bringing the Western Balkan countries “one step closer” to EU membership.
Orbán’s “Peace Mission” Sparks Controversy in Europe
In the first week of the Hungarian EU Council presidency, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán embarked on a self-proclaimed “peace mission”. His first stop was Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Just a few days later, however, Orbán made his next stop in Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin - without a mandate from the European Union. Several high-ranking European officials condemned the visit. The EU’s foreign affairs chief Joseph Borrell said Orbán had not received any mandate to visit Moscow, saying the visit was within “the framework […] of bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia”.
Additional steps of the tour included China, as well as the U.S., where Orbán met with presidential candidate Donald Trump. Orbán also attended a meeting of the Organisation of Turkic States in Azerbaijan. As a reaction to the latter trip, Borell emphasised that “Hungary has not received any mandate from the EU Council to advance relations with the Organisation of Turkic States”.
On 15th July 2024, just two weeks into the rotating presidency, 63 members of the European Parliament demanded Hungary’s EU voting rights be stripped. In their letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and European Parliament Chief Roberta Metsola, the MEPs said that Orbán “has already caused significant damage by exploiting and abusing the role of the Council Presidency”.
As another sign of discontent with the Hungarian approach, top EU officials have decided to boycott the informal meetings hosted by Hungary during its Council presidency. On 15th July, Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer commented on the decision on X (formerly Twitter), stating it was taken “in light of recent developments marking the start of the Hungarian presidency”. Hungary’s Europe Minister, János Bóka, criticised the boycott, insisting that EU institutions “cannot cherry-pick which member states they cooperate with.”
Changes to Hungarian “National Card” Scheme Lead to Worries of Russian Espionage
On 1st July 2024, new changes to the Hungarian National Card scheme came into effect.The National Card comes with a number of benefits in comparison to a normal guest worker status, such as family reunification and a longer duration of stay, as well as faster approval times, which means limited time for security checks. After the changes, the scheme now also includes Russian and Belarusian citizens, which has led to grave concerns among European decision makers who fear it could provide a backdoor for Russian espionage. In the past two years, EU countries have expelled more than 500 Russians suspected of spying.
EU Report Criticises Hungary’s Lack of Progress on Corruption and Civil Liberties
The European Commission's annual rule of law report, released on 24th July 2024, raises serious concerns about Hungary's ongoing issues with high-level corruption, as well as declining media freedom and restrictions on civil society.
While the report acknowledged some judicial reforms, it highlighted unresolved problems, including political interference in prosecutions and the lack of investigations into high-level corruption. Media pluralism in Hungary is another area of serious concern, with the report noting that no measures have been taken to regulate state advertising or to ensure the independence of public service media. Journalists and independent media continue to face smear campaigns and restricted access to government events, while recent legislative changes have further restricted freedom of information.
The report also highlights obstacles affecting civil society organisations, which have been further undermined by the new Sovereignty Protection Act.
Freedom of Expression
Foreign Minister's Forum in Kalocsa Restricted to Select Media; Journalists Confronted by Police
On 23rd May 2024, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó hosted a public forum in Kalocsa, advertised in local media. However, when reporters from independent news portal Telex arrived, they discovered that only “invited press” were allowed inside, while other journalists were denied entry. Despite being excluded, the Telex reporters waited in the car park, hoping to question Szijjártó about a recent Russian hacking incident.
When Szijjártó arrived, police declared the area around his car an “operational area,” checked the journalists' documents, and even inspected their camera to verify it wasn’t stolen. Once the minister departed, police ended the measures without further explanation.
Telex later filed a legal complaint with the support of human rights watchdog the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, arguing that the exclusion from the event and subsequent police actions were unjustified and aimed at hindering press freedom. Despite multiple inquiries, neither the police nor the Counter Terrorism Centre (TEK) have provided any explanation for their actions. The journalists are challenging what they see as an abuse of power to prevent media scrutiny of government officials.
Hungarian Investigative Outlet Átlátszó Targeted in Government Crackdown
On 25th June 2024, Átlátszó, a prominent Hungarian investigative media outlet reported that it was being investigated by Hungary's new Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO), sparking concerns over government efforts to silence independent voices.
The outlet, known for its investigations into corruption, received formal notification that it was being investigated by the SPO as an organisation that “using support from abroad, conduct[s] activities aimed at influencing the will of the voters”. As Átlátszó reports, the official letter informing them of the investigation contained a questionnaire with eleven questions – some related to publicly available information about the outlet, others requested accounting information and information about grants received from international donor organisations. The questions also included a request to “explain in detail how Átlátszó co-operates with the Transparency International Hungary Foundation, which is listed as a co-operating partner on its website.”
As previously reported by the CIVICUS Monitor, the SPO was established under a controversial law passed in 2023. It has the power to investigate entities it deems a threat to national sovereignty, a broad mandate that critics argue could be used to target independent media.
In response, Átlátszó announced on 8th July 2024 that it would not cooperate with the SPO, arguing that its activities do not meet the legal definition of political campaigning under Hungarian law and therefore fall outside the scope of the SPO’s mandate. The outlet emphasised that its financial reports are publicly accessible, refuting any claims of non-transparency.
The SPO’s move, seen by many as part of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's broader crackdown on civil society and the media, has drawn sharp criticism. Átlátszó’s executive director, Tamás Bodoky, described the investigation as a "Russian-style" tactic aimed at intimidating critical organisations.
The Sovereignty Protection Office also targeted Transparency International Hungary in a similar investigation, reported below under “Freedom of Association”.
Hungary to Sue EU over Media Freedom Act
On 10th July 2024, Hungary filed a case with the European Court of Justice, seeking to strike down the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). The Hungarian government argues that both the European Parliament and EU member states exceeded their authority by adopting the regulation in 2023.
The EMFA aims to protect journalists from political interference and spyware, promoting a pluralistic media environment across the Union. Hungary’s challenge comes amid growing concerns over its declining media freedom. Once ranked 40th in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, Hungary now ranks 85th, reflecting the erosion of press freedom and freedom of expression in the country over the past decade.
Hungary's Media Funding Plan Raises Press Freedom Concerns
On 8th July 2024, the Hungarian government announced a plan to monitor the funding of media outlets as part of its “anti-war action plan,” sparking concerns about press freedom and democratic principles. Gergely Gulyás, Minister of the Prime Minister's Office, explained that the initiative aims to combat foreign influence by requiring media outlets and political parties to disclose funding sources, particularly from outside the European Union. Gulyás emphasised that the measure would not affect editorial independence and that the focus would be on funding received from outside the EU.
Journalists Accused of Serving Foreign Interests
On 26th July 2024, Tamás Lánczi, head of Hungary's Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO), accused independent media outlets 444.hu and Telex of engaging in activities that threaten national security. The accusations followed reporters from these outlets questioning Lánczi about why his office had not investigated Foreign Minister Szijjártó's controversial acceptance of an award from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shortly before the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Instead of addressing the legitimate concerns raised, Lánczi dismissed the need for an investigation and accused the journalists of “distorting the news” and “building false narratives”, even going so far as to suggest they indirectly support the war. Furthermore, Lánczi claimed that Telex represents foreign interests, pointing to its partial funding from abroad as evidence.
Sovereignty Protection Office Criticises Independent Media Over Chinese Vaccine Reporting
In a report published on 15th July 2024, the Sovereignty Protection Office accused multiple media outlets of spreading disinformation about the Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, alleging they deliberately eroded public trust. The SPO's report lists nearly 200 articles from ten media outlets as examples of what it describes as an “anti-Chinese-vaccine narrative.”
However, the report provides little detail on why these articles are considered disinformation, mainly pointing out that they were critical of the government's pandemic response. In doing so, the SPO inadvertently highlighted inconsistencies in the government’s own messaging, as some of the articles labelled as disinformation were based on government data or studies funded by the government itself.
Freedom of Assembly
Pro- and Anti-Government Protests Ahead of European Elections
On 1st June 2024, tens of thousands of people gathered in Hungary’s capital Budapest. The rally, dubbed a “peace march”, was intended as a show of strength by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán one week before the elections for a new European Parliament. Orbán told his supporters that it was time for his party to “occupy Brussels” and to transform the continent’s approach to Ukraine. “We must win the European elections in such a way that makes the Brussels bureaucrats open their doors to us in fear and leave their offices in a hurry,” he declared. One week later, on 8th June 2024, Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar called on tens of thousand supporters to back his party in the EP elections. He promised that, if they are successful, “Hungary will be a country of justice, honour, and law.”
Pride Parade in Budapest Criticises Government, Faces Counter-Protests
On 22th June 2024, LGBTQI+ associations and allies marched through Budapest as part of Budapest Pride. Held under the slogan “Take back your future,” the parade featured criticism of the Hungarian government’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights. In a speech, poet and translator Orsolya Karafiáth criticised the Hungarian government for pandering to homophobic voices. Several local politicians and foreign diplomats participated, including Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony and U.S. Ambassador David Pressman.
The event also sparked counter-protests, organised by the right-wing party Mi Hazánk and supported by the international conservative lobby group CitizenGO. The group claims to represent a “silent majority” committed to preserving family values and preventing what they called LGBTQI+ ideology from infiltrating families and influencing society.
Protester Faces Criminal Charges for Wearing Gas Mask at Demonstration
In August 2022, a protester donned a gas mask during a demonstration against deforestation in Hungary. Despite the fact that the person removed the mask when instructed by police, criminal proceedings were initiated against them.
Initially, the protester received a conditional sentence (probation), meaning that if they don’t commit any further offences within two years, their conviction will be dismissed at the end of the probation period. However, the prosecution has repeatedly appealed against this decision and pushed for a harsher sentence, apparently in an attempt to make an example of the defendant. The last court hearing in the case was held in June 2024, where probation was upheld, but the prosecution has appealed the decision, citing an increase in cases of protesters hiding their faces.
The protester explained that the gas mask symbolised concerns about air quality linked to deforestation and was unaware that Hungarian law forbids covering one’s face at protests without special permission. Despite complying with police orders, the individual was later surprised to learn the case had escalated to criminal proceedings.
The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU), which is representing the protester, argues that the case is an attempt to discourage public demonstrations. The HCLU has vowed to continue fighting what it views as a disproportionate response to a minor act of civil disobedience.
Paks Protests as Government Cuts One-Third of City’s Revenue
On 6th August 2024, media reported that nearly 10% of Paks residents gathered in the city’s main square to protest a government decision that will strip the city of over one-third of its revenue. The new policy designates the area around the Paks nuclear power plant as a special economic zone, redirecting industrial and property taxes—amounting to 7 billion forints—to nearby counties with Fidesz leadership.
Anita Heringes, the newly elected opposition mayor who will take office in October, warned that the city’s reduced budget threatens essential services such as social care and education, which could also jeopardise the safety of the nuclear power plant if workers’ concerns are not addressed. Protesters believe the government’s move is a direct response to the opposition’s victory in the recent local elections, which ended Fidesz’s 26-year control of the city.
Speakers, including local and regional leaders, condemned the government’s actions as an attack on local autonomy and a punishment for electing opposition leaders. They emphasised the broader implications for other municipalities and called for continued resistance. A petition against the decision was signed during the protest and will be sent to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Pro-Palestinian Protest Held in Budapest Despite Government Restrictions
On 9th August 2024, activists held a protest in support of Palestine in Budapest’s Szabadság Square, circumventing a government ban on such demonstrations. Organised under the guise of “World’s Indigenous Peoples Day,” the event was allowed by authorities. The event organiser, musician-activist Gergely Komáromy, known as Gregory G Ras, managed to navigate around the ban by avoiding direct mention of Palestine in the official request.
The protest, which also highlighted issues of exploitation and oppression globally, attracted around 100 participants. It featured speeches condemning Israeli actions in Gaza and broader discussions on justice and human rights. The demonstration remained peaceful, with organisers emphasising nonviolence and the legal right to freedom of peaceful assembly. Despite initial police scrutiny, the event proceeded without incident.
Participants expressed hope that the demonstration would set a precedent for future peaceful protests on similar issues in Hungary.
Freedom of Association
Transparency International Hungary Under Investigation by Government's New Foreign Influence Agency
On 25th June 2024, Transparency International Hungary (TI) announced it was under investigation by the Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO), becoming the first organisation targeted by the newly established agency. The SPO launched an extensive inquiry into TI’s work, sending a six-page letter containing 62 questions that probed various aspects of the NGO’s operations, including its foreign funding and communication practices.
On 8th July 2024, TI responded to the letter, expressing concerns that several provisions of the Sovereignty Protection Act conflict with Hungary’s Fundamental Law, violating rights such as freedom of expression and the right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial. Consequently, the organisation filed a constitutional complaint on 19th June 2024, seeking to annul the contested provisions with retroactive effect.
The NGO emphasised that its financial and operational information is publicly available through its website and annual reports. However, it noted that donor contracts and client data are accessible only to authorised parties, and the SPO lacks the legal authority to demand such information. Transparency International criticised the SPO’s inquiry as unprofessional and based on unrealistic assumptions. The full response, constitutional complaint, and the original inquiry with all 62 questions are available online.
Sovereignty Protection Office Investigates Foreign Influence Through Donation Platforms
On 25th July 2024, the Sovereignty Protection Office released a report highlighting its concerns about foreign influence in Hungary through donation platforms and financial services. The report claims that in recent decades, certain foreign-funded groups have operated in a “public grey zone” – allegedly exploiting the legal framework for civil society organisations and media, while acting in a way that poses a threat to the country’s sovereignty.
The Office identified companies involved in fundraising, database building, and payment services linked to political parties and organisations, noting that these platforms can conceal the identity of donors, making it difficult to verify the source of funding. The report argues that new funding channels enabled by information technology have undermined transparency and could enable illegal foreign funding of political activities in Hungary.
The analysis specifically names several companies specialising in digital campaigning – the American company Action Network, as well as Estratos, a successor to DatAdat – as entities that could bypass Hungarian regulations. Based on these findings, the Sovereignty Protection Office initiates investigations into the involved political parties, civil society organisations, and companies.