Hungary: Government to launch “national consultation” survey Oct. 9

Event

Hungary’s national conservative government, led by controversial Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has resumed its campaign against the Hungarian-American philanthropist and Holocaust survivor, George Soros, an outspoken supporter of migration. On Monday, October 9, the Hungarian government will send a “national campaign” survey to Hungary’s 8 million eligible citizens asking their views on current EU immigration policies and which they called the “Soros Plan.” According to media reports, anti-Semite billboards have been erected and television advertisements accusing Soros of masterminding a plot to force Europe to welcome over 1 million immigrants each year and manipulating the European Commission to enforce the plan have also been released. The international NGO Human Rights Watch has classified the national consultation survey as an “official hate campaign.” The widespread diffusion of xenophobic and anti-Semitic rhetoric may encourage racist behavior and exacerbate social tensions. Associated protests and demonstrations may take place in the coming days and after the results of the survey are released.

Context

Orban’s government has repeatedly blamed Soros and the EU’s resettlement policies for the country’s shortfalls. Its anti-migration rhetoric has been widely criticized by EU member states. Hungary recently rejected a European Court of Justice ruling that refused its appeal of the 2015 EU plan for member states to accept quotas of migrants. 

This new initiative is likely tied to Prime Minister’s Orban’s intent to run for a third consecutive term in April 2018. Anti-Soros rhetoric and EU criticism have been widely used as political tools by Orban’s government to galvanize popular support among nationalists. Soros has expressed support for the implementation of an EU-wide common asylum system and the reinforcement of EU external border security. In 2016, he published an article advocating for the resettlement of 300,000 refugees in an effort to reduce irregular migration. Orban’s government has repeatedly portrayed Soros as responsible for the EU compulsory refugee resettlement program.

Advice

Individuals in Hungary are advised to remain abreast of the situation and avoid any protests or demonstrations as a precaution.