"Security threat"

Dual citizens in the sights of the Orbán government

(Bild: Gudellaphoto - stock.adobe.com)

The Hungarian government is currently working on a law that would allow the expulsion of its own citizens if they also hold another citizenship.

According to reports, this concerns people who "threaten" Hungary's sovereignty, public order, territorial integrity and security. In recent years, "foreign powers and speculators have interfered in Hungary's internal affairs, even in electoral processes, with increasing unscrupulousness and to an ever greater extent", Fidesz parliamentary group leader Máté Kocsis told the online portal nepszava.hu on Monday. At the same time, an "active discrediting campaign" against Hungary has taken place across Europe.

The government under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán views many dual nationals with a very critical eye.

(Bild: AP)

According to Kocsis, this activity takes place via "pseudo non-governmental organizations", "bought" politicians and "media claiming to be independent". The donors wanted to use these attempts to exert influence to further their own financial, economic, ideological and political interests.

Targeting organizations financed from abroad
Hungary's right-wing nationalist government, led by Viktor Orbán, has been campaigning for years to restrict NGOs and independent media by branding them as "foreign-funded organizations" in line with the Russian model. It also accuses them of "undermining Hungarian sovereignty". A separate authority, the Office for the Protection of Sovereignty, was created last year to investigate these "offenses".