The EU is raising its voice. The European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Hungary on Wednesday February 7, after the adoption in mid-December of legislation establishing a supervisory authority supposed to prevent “foreign interference” in the electoral process and “protect the sovereignty” of the country.
The Hungarian legislative package, which provides for prison sentences, is denounced by NGOs and critics of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a new offensive to muzzle counter-powers.
A letter of formal notice
The European executive specified, in a press release, that it had sent Budapest a letter of formal notice for violations of EU law. The Hungarian government now has two months to respond. If the Commission released some 10 billion euros for Hungary in mid-December, 21 billion of European funds intended for it remain frozen by the EU within the framework of various procedures due to the alleged breaches of the rule of law. in Budapest.
After “an in-depth assessment”, “the Commission raises serious concerns about the conformity (of the new law) with EU law”, in particular concerning “the principle of democracy, electoral rights, respect for the Charter of EU fundamental rights, EU data protection and several rules applicable to the internal market,” explains a spokesperson.
“Moreover, the creation of a new authority with broad powers and a strict regime of surveillance and sanctions risks seriously harming democracy in Hungary,” she added at a press conference. .
“Illegal attacks” threaten national security
Set up in the run-up to the European and municipal elections in June 2024, this “independent office for the protection of sovereignty” will have the mission of “investigating” “illegal attacks” threatening national security – including the activities of organizations benefiting from foreign funding.
The Hungarian government regularly accuses the EU and “various foreign organizations”, notably American, of “distributing billions of euros” to the opposition in order to “influence the choice of voters”.
The investigations of the authority, led by a close friend of Viktor Orban, could lead to the opening of legal investigations, with possible prison sentences for any candidate in the elections implicated. Another concern: its unlimited and non-recourse power to request sensitive data and private information.
Several human rights NGOs, including Amnesty International, denounced the government’s desire to “silence critical voices”, saying that “journalists, businesses, unions, churches and municipalities” could be targeted.
The United States said it was “concerned” by a “law incompatible with our shared values of democracy, individual freedom and the rule of law” which provides the government with “draconian tools that can be used to intimidate and punish people whose opinions are not shared by the ruling party” Fidesz.