Hungary ruling party looks to advance ‘Stop Soros’ laws after election win

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Capitalizing on its sweeping election victory, Hungary’s governing Fidesz party says it could push through the so-called “Stop Soros” laws targeting civic groups and people aiding refugees as soon as May.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban, elected yesterday to his third consecutive term, based his campaign on demonizing migrants, saying that wealthy philanthropist George Soros, the European Union and the United Nations are conspiring to turn Hungary into an “immigrant country.”

Fidesz parliamentary spokesman Janos Halasz says Monday that the “Stop Soros” package could be among the first legislative measures approved by the new Fidesz super-majority in parliament.

Orban has repeatedly described civic groups supported by Soros, and in general any non-governmental group he disagrees with, as foreign agents working against Hungarian interests.

Among the stipulations of the new law, refugee advocates would need government permission for their activities and would pay a tax on their donations from abroad.

— AP