Soros’ foundation to close Hungary operations

The Hindu
AFP, May 15, 2018

Group to relocate to Berlin, blames repressive policies of Prime Minister Victor Orbán government
The foundation run by U.S.-Hungarian billionaire George Soros said on Tuesday that it was closing operations in Hungary and relocating to Germany in response to the “repressive” policies of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government.

“Faced with an increasingly repressive political and legal environment in Hungary, the Open Society Foundations (OSF) are moving their Budapest-based international operations and staff to the German capital, Berlin,” said the network.

Mr. Orbán, reelected last month for a third consecutive term in office, has long accused Mr. Soros and non-governmental organisations he funds of orchestrating immigration and plotting to undermine the cultural fabric of Europe. “We won’t be shedding any crocodile tears,” the government’s press office said on Tuesday, reacting to the departure.

‘Stop Soros’ package
OSF said the decision follows the latest steps by Mr. Orbán to “impose further restrictions” on NGOs.

Earlier this year, citing national security concerns, the government announced a so-called “Stop Soros” package of draft laws aimed at “shedding light” and clamping down on NGOs receiving funding from abroad. The proposals include a special tax on such NGOs, secret service surveillance of their staff, and a ban on individuals deemed to be involved in “illegal immigration”.

Orbán’s reelection
Mr. Orbán, who won by a landslide in the April 8 election, on Monday said the “Stop Soros” package would be among the first Bills tabled to the new Parliament in the coming weeks.

The theme of thwarting Mr. Soros’s alleged efforts to encourage immigration dominated the election campaign during which Mr. Orbán said some 2,000 “mercenaries” paid by the billionaire were working in Hungary.

“It has become impossible to protect the security of our operations and our staff in Hungary from arbitrary government interference,” said Patrick Gaspard, OSF president in Tuesday’s statement.

The “Stop Soros” measures follow a series of large-scale taxpayer-funded information campaigns in recent years attacking the billionaire.

OSF said more than 100 staff in Budapest would be affected by the move to Berlin, around 60% of whom are Hungarian nationals.

Reference:-http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/soros-foundation-to-close-hungary-operations/article23895355.ece

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