Attacks on independent civil society organizations and media increased in 2025. On March 15, 2025, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán publicly referred to “politicians, judges, journalists, pseudo-NGOs and political activists” as “vermin”.
In May 2025, the governing coalition submitted a draft law that would allow the government to blacklist a wide range of independent civil society organizations, media outlets, and private companies based on arbitrary criteria. Organizations deemed a “threat to Hungary’s sovereignty” would then face the freezing of their funding, as well as all foreign income.
In September 2025, the government created Hungary’s first “national anti-terrorism list.” This list classified the anti-fascist movement “Antifa” in general, and the German group Antifa Ost (also known as the “Hammer Gang”) in particular, as terrorist organizations. Anyone associated with any of the organizations on the list will face financial penalties. For those who do not hold Hungarian citizenship, this could lead to deportation or denial of entry into the country.
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