There are no signs that Hungary’s political parties have the political will to reform campaign financing to make it more transparent, British Ambassador to Hungary Gregory Dorey told a workshop on party and campaign financing in Budapest on Wednesday.
This is why only 16 percent of Hungarian adults believe that the parties’ financing is legal and above-board, he said.
Dorey said that in exchange for support, certain interest groups acquire undue influence over political parties. But Hungarians are not bothered enough about corruption to make it a big issue, even if it has a devastating effect both on tax and business life, he added.
Freedom House Europe Deputy Director Balint Molnar said that pre-election campaigns should be limited to 15 to 30 days in Hungary. Apart from these periods, all kinds of political advertising should be banned, he said.
The workshop was organised by Freedom House, Transparency International and Nezopont Institute.
