Hungary's Orban steps up crackdown on NGOs ahead of election
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hungary's prime minister is stepping up efforts to silence civic groups critical of his government ahead of April elections which will likely result in his third consecutive term.
Critics fear that a new draft bill nominally meant to stem support for advocates of asylum seekers and migrants will also be used to strengthen the domination of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government and state control over civil society.
Orban will give his annual "state of the nation" speech on Sunday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}After eight years in government and despite rising economic growth and record-low unemployment, Orban is expected to continue to vilify migration, the European Union's leadership and his personal bete noire, Hungarian-American financier George Soros, whose "open society" ideal clashes with Orban's efforts to turn Hungary into an "illiberal state."