Hungary's 'protection of national sovereignty' law threatens free debate, human rights panel says

Hungary's new “protection of national sovereignty” law will have “catalytic effects” on free and democratic debate in the country, a group of Council of Europe constitutional experts ruled, the human rights committee said today. Hungary's parliament passed a draft law in December which, according to the ruling right-wing Fidesz party, would prevent undue interference in the country's political life by persons or groups from third countries. Based on this new draft law, an authority, the Agency for the Protection of National Sovereignty, was established to expand and monitor the dangers of political interference. The law punishes prohibited foreign funding of parties or groups running for elections with up to three years in prison. The Council of Europe's group of constitutional experts, also known as the Venice Commission, announced that the Agency for the Protection of National Sovereignty cannot be considered independent and this can lead to arbitrary and politically motivated applications […]
Source: News Beast

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