The Hungarian government has initiated the dissolution of the Sovereignty Protection Agency
The ruling Fidesz party has submitted a bill to the Hungarian Parliament to abolish the Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO)—an agency established in 2023 under Viktor Orbán’s government to monitor risks of so-called “undue political interference” by foreign organizations.
Throughout its existence, the agency has repeatedly been the target of criticism from the opposition, the journalistic community, and civil society organizations.
Its opponents claimed that the SPO was used as a tool for exerting political pressure on critics of the government.
The explanatory note to the bill states that the agency did not perform any actual state functions.
“The Office for the Protection of Sovereignty does not perform any actual state duties, and its creation served exclusively political intentions and interests. The true purpose of the Office for the Protection of Sovereignty was to exert pressure for political purposes on citizens, certain organizations, and the media,” the document states.
It is noted that the organization’s main activity was the preparation and publication of studies reflecting the position of Viktor Orbán’s government on key issues of domestic and foreign policy.
Among the topics that received particular attention were attitudes toward Ukraine, migration policy, and Hungary’s relations with the European Union.
In its reports, the SPO regularly accused opposition politicians, journalists, civil society activists, academics, and non-governmental organizations of promoting “foreign interests.”
According to available information, the Office for the Protection of Sovereignty ceased publishing reports shortly after Viktor Orbán’s defeat in the elections.
After the new government led by Péter Magyar came to power, Hungary began reviewing a number of decisions made by the previous administration. One of the new leadership’s priorities has been to restore and improve relations with the European Union.
This is reported by Reuters.
Earlier, the Hungarian government stated that a meeting between Prime Minister Péter Magyar and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is possible under certain conditions.
A bill has been introduced in Hungary that could permanently bar Viktor Orbán from returning to the post of prime minister. The initiative would limit the term of office to two terms or eight years in total. The decision has already sparked political controversy and active debate in the country.
