BRATISLAVA – The Slovak government approved a “lobbyist” bill on non-governmental organizations yesterday, drawing sharp criticism from NGOs who called it “Putin-style legislation” for which protests are already planned.
Ruling coalition MP Adam Luczanski, who is proposing the bill, proposed classifying NGOs that directly or indirectly influence politicians as lobbyists and subjecting them to administrative obligations.
At the moment, there is no such requirement for real lobbyists in Slovakia.
The amendment, proposed by far-right social media groups, would also require organisations to disclose information about individuals who have contributed more than €5,000 to their foundation in a year, as well as the identities of their governing bodies or board members.
NGOs have sharply criticized the bill, calling it a “Russian law” inspired by “Putin’s rules to suppress freedom.” The legislation also becomes a central theme of upcoming anti-government protests organized by NGOs across the country on Thursday and Friday.
NGO Via Iuris said the bill had not undergone expert consultation and warned that the changes would stigmatise and restrict the activities of organisations.
According to their analysis, the proposal is discriminatory and contrary to the Constitution and European law.
Prime Minister Robert Fico rejected the comparison with Russian legislation. “They don't know what to protest against anymore, so they come up with another lie,” he said.
The bill is the latest attempt by the ruling coalition to tighten control over NGOs, which it has repeatedly subjected to verbal attacks.
Last year, the government tried to introduce a foreign agent law modeled on Russia's, which would have labeled organisations that receive foreign funding as such, effectively stigmatising them. However, the attempt failed due to a backlash from civil society and the EU.
The discussion of the bill will take place on April 9.
(Natalia Silenska | Euractiv.sk)
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