European Populist Regimes Leverage ‘Foreign Agents’ Legislation to Curb Dissent

In several European countries, a new trend is emerging among leaders with authoritarian inclinations: the implementation of “foreign agents” laws. Such legislation, designed to label organizations and individuals receiving foreign funding as “foreign agents,” is increasingly being used as a strategic tool to suppress dissent and control the narrative. Hungary and Poland, in particular, are at the forefront of this push. In Hungary, under the leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the parliament has already introduced laws that increase scrutiny on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) benefiting from international financial support. Critics argue that these laws are … Read more