Viktor Orban has been President of the European Council since Monday, July 1st, while his country is regularly singled out for its violations of the rule of law. Non-governmental organizations are also targeted. Transparency International is the target of an administrative investigation. The anti-corruption association is accused of being a ” foreign agent “.
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Six pages and 62 questions. In its letter, the highly contested Office for the Defense of Sovereignty demands accountability from the local branch of Transparency International, suspected of ” of foreign influence “.
For Miklos Ligeti, lawyer for the NGO, this investigation is not a coincidence. For us, it is one more element in the strategy of government intended to intimidate NGOs, to threaten them with sanctions or at least to make them understand that they risk being targeted, simply because we criticize the government on the plans to fight against corruption and the rule of law ” he reacted.
Investigative media also targeted by the investigation
Transparency International will play the game and answer the agency’s questions, even though the NGO has no legal means to defend itself against the office for the protection of sovereignty. We believe that this agency is incompatible with our Constitution because it violates the right to defend oneself in court and the right to express oneself freely. We have therefore filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court to request that the law that governs the agency be amended. “, continued Miklos Ligeti.
Transparency International also appealed to Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission. Last February, the European Union launched a infringement procedure against Hungary, without effect for the moment. The investigation site Atlaszo is also concerned by this investigation.