Hungary’s Foreign Policy: A Costly Pursuit of Sovereignty
Hungary often finds itself in the spotlight for its pronounced foreign policy stance, as Sophie Matlary elaborates in a recent article for Nettavisen. However, this visibility comes at a considerable cost—one that dramatically undermines human rights.
Investigating “Enemies” of the State
In a troubling move this year, Hungarian authorities established a “sovereignty office,” an institution tasked with investigating journalists, civil society groups, and critics, labeling them as threats to the state. This initiative signals not strength, but a desperate attempt to silence dissenting voices. Independent organizations are branded as foreign agents, accused of malevolently “harming Hungary.”
These measures are alarmingly reminiscent of authoritarian regimes, where the suppression of free speech is all too common.
EU Imposes €200 Million Fine
The European Court of Justice recently levied a staggering fine of over €200 million against Hungary for systematic violations of asylum rights. The penalties arise from illegal, often violent pushbacks of individuals seeking refuge. In addition, the Hungarian government faces a daily fine of €1 million until it amends its legislation.
These figures do not represent achievements; they rather underscore a troubling pattern of widespread rights violations.
A case in point is the ongoing investigation of Géza Buzás-Hábel, leader of Pécs Pride. A Roma gay teacher and human rights advocate, he now finds himself under scrutiny for attempting to organize a peaceful Pride celebration. Authorities used Hungary’s anti-Pride legislation to preemptively ban the event, leaving him facing potential charges that could land him in prison for up to a year.
Judicial Integrity Under Threat
Legal certainty in Hungary is increasingly compromised, as courts and judges face mounting political pressure. Many within the judiciary have openly protested what they describe as governmental blackmail linked to new reforms.
The pressure on minority groups continues to escalate. This year alone, over 3,000 individuals fleeing the conflict in Ukraine—many of whom are women and small children from Roma backgrounds—lost government housing support due to political decisions.
This is the stark reality confronting those vulnerable populations.
When Norwegian public figures turn to Hungary as a model to emulate, it is crucial to paint the whole picture. Organizations like Amnesty International assess policies based on their human rights implications, independent of who proposes them. When a nation is held up as a paragon, we bear the responsibility to critique any model that compromises freedom of expression, erodes legal protections, fosters discrimination, or breaches international obligations.
If Norway aspires to learn from the experiences of other countries, it should look towards those that uplift human rights rather than weaken them.