George Soros faces backlash in Eastern Europe and Balkans

Amid cooling global attitudes towards international institutionalism and open border, anti-sovereign state political policies, George Soros has found himself facing an increasingly resilient and international resistance to his non-profit organizations and NGOs.

On January 17, 2016 Macedonian Newspaper Republika reported the January 16th launch of a domestic initiative to investigate and resist the influence of George Soros aligned NGOs and political parties within Macedonia.  Co-founder Nikola Srbov cited the “take over of the entire civil sector and its abuse and instrumentalization to meet the goals of one political party” as the reason for the movement’s founding. Srbov was quoted by Czech publication Svobodné Noviny as calling for all “freedom-minded citizens” regardless of ethical origin or religion to join in “the fight against the civilian sector, which is designed and managed by George Soros.”

The news breaks less than a month after EU officials criticized Macedonian VMRO DPMNE party leader Nikola Gruevski for comments he made accusing Macedonia’s election commission of allowing “foreign ambassadors” to interfere in their work. In late December, Macedonia’s Public Revenue Office began to send financial inspectors to the Open Society Foundation’s offices along with 20 other NGOs. They insisted that the inspections were not related to Gruevski’s comments.

Macedonia’s moves to restrict the influence of George Soros-aligned organizations come just days after an announcement by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban that his government would use “all the tools at its disposal” to crack down on non-governmental organisations bankrolled by the Hungarian-born business magnate and investor.

George Soros’ Open Society Foundation works globally to promote liberal ideals and generate support for open-border, liberal institutionalist policies around the world. Soros is well known for funneling millions of dollars into the U.S. Democratic Party to support Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Presidential Election.