From control over media to curbs on academic freedom: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's policies

Orban has converted Hungary's media landscape, which has brought about accusations of curtailing media freedoms from the European Union and pro-democracy groups, a fee his authorities denies.

His authorities tightened its grip over nation media, together with broadcast media, turning them it right into a pro-authorities mouthpiece, critics say. Advertising cash channelled to pro-authorities retailers has helped create extra unswerving media insurance withinside the personal media, at the same time as numerous personal media retailers had been close or taken over through authorities-pleasant owners. In 2021, Hungary ranked 92th at the World Press Freedom Index, down from 56th in 2013.

Armed with Fidesz' two-thirds majority, Orban surpassed a brand new charter in 2011 and modified loads of legal guidelines.

During its first term, Fidesz made loads of judges retire below legal guidelines the EU stated violated its regulations. Hungary's Constitutional Court later annulled elements of that law.

Critics say new electoral regulations have helped cement Fidesz' energy with the aid of using favouring huge parties, redrawing electoral districts and granting the proper to vote to ethnic Hungarians throughout significant Europe, maximum of whom generally tend to assist Orban.

Orban loyalists also are in charge of key institutions, along with the leader prosecutor and the top of the media authority.

Under Orban's rule, Hungary repaid in 2013 all outstanding debt owed to the International Monetary Fund following a bailout throughout the worldwide economic disaster and its debt regained funding grade repute 3 years later.

His authorities reined in financial deficits and public debt till the coronavirus pandemic reversed the trend, with Orban's pre-election spending spree in 2021 and this yr widening the shortfall further.

Europe's maximum tax on banks, nationalisation of a few non-public pension budget and a tax on telecoms, electricity and retail companies, maximum of them foreign-owned, helped bolster authorities finaces however brought about clashes with Brussels.

With businessmen near Fidesz obtaining big chunks of those strategic sectors, Hungarian possession increased, with Orban announcing in advance this yr banking, media and electricity sectors have become majority Hungarian-owned.

Hungary constructed a fence on its southern border after the 2015 migration disaster and imposed a number of Europe's hardest asylum rules. 

Rejecting immigration as a technique to Hungary's demographic decline, Orban pledged to enhance beginning quotes with the assist of family-friendly taxation instead. 

The tax incentives have fuelled a housing increase and surging domestic prices.

Orban's authorities has cracked down on a few non-governmental groups and tightened controls over educational institutions.

As a result, Open Society Foundations, based with the aid of using Hungarian-born billionaire George Soros, closed its Budapest workplace in 2018 and moved to Berlin, whilst a main liberal school, the Central European University, moved to Vienna in 2019.

Orban has forged himself as a defender of Hungary's cultural identification in opposition to Muslim immigration and a protector of Christian values in opposition to a so-called "gender and LGBT ideology" and Western liberalism.

Over the beyond 12 years, the authorities has redefined marriage because the union among one guy and one lady withinside the constitution, and constrained homosexual adoption and transgender rights.

In June 2021 parliament handed a regulation banning from colleges substances visible as selling homosexuality and gender change, which drew grievance from the EU and rights corporations who argued that it stigmatized the LGBTQ community.

Under Orban, the EU and NATO member has pursued an "Eastern opening" to Russia and China and he has recommended Moscow's pastimes inside the EU.

He condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 and supported EU sanctions towards Moscow, however he has averted personal criticism of Putin and strongly opposes banning Russian electricity shipments pronouncing that might destroy the economy.