Published: November 26 2023
Opposition party Párbeszéd plans to request a review of contracts and agreements related to the Paks 2 nuclear power station project and relationships with China and Russia. They aim to investigate potential interference from these countries in Hungary's domestic affairs.
The Sovereignty Protection Authority
Once established, the Sovereignty Protection Authority will be responsible for reviewing contracts and agreements. However, there are concerns that its activities will involve limiting democracy and engaging in smear campaigns.
Key Contracts and Agreements
Párbeszéd will specifically ask the Sovereignty Protection Authority to review various agreements, including the Russian-Hungarian nuclear cooperation agreement, the Paks expansion contracts and financing deals, Hungary's gas supply contracts and gas transport agreements, the Budapest-Belgrade railway construction agreement, and a Chinese loan provided to MVM. The goal is to understand the extent of interference from China and Russia in Hungary's domestic affairs.
Questions & Answers
What contracts and agreements in Hungary are being reviewed by the Opposition Párbeszéd? The Opposition Párbeszéd is planning to ask the newly set-up Sovereignty Protection Authority in Budapest to review contracts signed for the Paks 2 nuclear power station project and certain agreements with China and Russia. They specifically mentioned a Russian-Hungarian nuclear cooperation agreement, the Paks expansion contracts including its financing deals, Hungary's long-term gas supply contracts and gas transport agreements, the Budapest-Belgrade railway construction agreement, and the case of a Chinese loan provided to MVM.
Why does the Opposition Párbeszéd want these contracts and agreements reviewed? The Opposition Párbeszéd wants these contracts and agreements to be reviewed in order to reveal how Russia and China interfere in Hungary's domestic affairs. They believe that recent years' efforts by Russia and China to gain influence in Hungary through economic and political dependencies need to be exposed.
What kind of tasks will the Sovereignty Protection Authority be responsible for? According to Benedek Jávor, who is heading the Opposition Párbeszéd, the newly set-up Sovereignty Protection Authority will be tasked with "pestering civilians, opposition politicians and journalists, pursuing smear campaigns, and producing Russian-type kompromats". He believes that these tasks have nothing to do with Hungary's sovereignty but will involve removing the remains of democracy.
What methods have Russia and China used to gain influence in Hungary, according to Jávor? Jávor states that Russia and China have been trying to gain influence in Hungary by developing economic and political dependencies, using methods known from the Balkans and the third world.
Who is eligible to participate in the Hungarian census? Every long-term resident of Hungary, both Hungarian citizens and foreign nationals, who have been living in Hungary for at least 3 months as of 1 October 2022 are eligible to participate in the Hungarian census.
