Hungary’s new law restricting state support for Ukrainian refugees is a “highly irresponsible move,” Péter Krekó, Director of the Political Capital think tank based in Budapest, told TVP World.
In August, the Hungarian government adopted a law removing financial protection and eligibility for free housing for some Ukrainian refugees.
Under the new regulations, only refugees from areas of Ukraine designated as conflict zones will be eligible for free housing from the Hungarian state.
Over 3,000 Ukrainians residing in Hungary are expected to be affected by the new law, losing access to subsidized accommodation.
Commenting on the new law, Krekó said, “It’s a highly irresponsible move,” adding that it could “bring many Ukrainian refugees into trouble.”
He said that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is attempting to balance relations between the West and Russia, adding that while Budapest remains a signatory to most NATO resolutions condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it continues to propagate Russian disinformation through state-owned media.
“Russian disinformation in Hungary is not coming from the fringe, but from the mainstream and from governmental players and their media,” Krekó said.
Putin ‘a role model’ for Orbán
Krekó also said that the Russian President Vladmir Putin is “obviously a role model for Orbán,” and that some of the recent legislations passed by Hungary’s government appears to have been copied from the “Russian political playbook.”
Krekó specifically mentioned Hungary’s new Sovereignty Protection Office , established last year, which is tasked with monitoring political circles and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that receive unauthorized financial aid from abroad.
Critics have alleged that the office serves to silence the opposition and stifle free debate in a country where Fidesz, Orbán’s party, has been in power for over a decade.
Click on the video above to watch the full interview.
Under the new regulations, only refugees from areas of Ukraine designated as conflict zones will be eligible for free housing from the Hungarian state.
Over 3,000 Ukrainians residing in Hungary are expected to be affected by the new law, losing access to subsidized accommodation.
Commenting on the new law, Krekó said, “It’s a highly irresponsible move,” adding that it could “bring many Ukrainian refugees into trouble.”
He said that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is attempting to balance relations between the West and Russia, adding that while Budapest remains a signatory to most NATO resolutions condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it continues to propagate Russian disinformation through state-owned media.
“Russian disinformation in Hungary is not coming from the fringe, but from the mainstream and from governmental players and their media,” Krekó said.
Putin ‘a role model’ for Orbán
Krekó also said that the Russian President Vladmir Putin is “obviously a role model for Orbán,” and that some of the recent legislations passed by Hungary’s government appears to have been copied from the “Russian political playbook.”
Krekó specifically mentioned Hungary’s new Sovereignty Protection Office , established last year, which is tasked with monitoring political circles and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that receive unauthorized financial aid from abroad.
Critics have alleged that the office serves to silence the opposition and stifle free debate in a country where Fidesz, Orbán’s party, has been in power for over a decade.
Click on the video above to watch the full interview.
