by
Martin Banks
A spokesman for the powerful Soros flatly denied he had been meddling in the working of European democracies. But this website has learned of fresh allegations that US aid money may have gone through Soros' Open Society Foundation (OSF) in attempt to intervene in the party politics of Macedonia. The US Congress is now being urged to investigate the potentially highly damaging allegations.
American Republican senator Christopher Smith called for an inquiry into whether US aid had been used by Soros-supported groups to fund leftist causes in Europe, including violent street protests. The claims came to light after a series of e-mails from Soros sponsored groups were released by WikiLeaks and and a site called DCLeaks.com. They are said to provide "plenty of damning evidence" to justify initiating a series of investigations into the activities of groups run by Soros. His NGOs, supposedly set up to promote liberal causes around the world, are accused of trying to "destabilise" governments. ganisations in Europe.
The documents appear to reflect a wide-ranging programme by various Soros-affiliated organisations to influence European, particularly German, attitudes towards migrants. It is said Soros-backed groups played a "significant role" in lobbying the German and other governments to welcome Middle Eastern migrants. One example cited in the documents is that of a German think tank alleged to have submitted a proposal that requested $1.8m to carry out OSF public opinion survey immigrant integration.
The leaked papers also cite "successful private briefings" organised by OSF in Berlin, at the US State Department and the UK Department of Cities and Local Government. Politicians in Hungary, Croatia and Bulgaria, all EU members, have criticised OSF, an organisation that operates in 60 countries promoting liberal causes, for allegedly encouraging the wave of migration into their countries.
Hungarian PM Viktor Orban has been particularly vocal in his criticism, claiming Soros and groups backed by him wanted to secretly influence his country's politics. Orban said groups receiving funding from Soros needed to be made transparent and identifiable. "Large-bodied predators are swimming here in the waters. This is the trans-border empire of George Soros, with tons of money and international heavy artillery. It is causing trouble ... that they are trying secretly and with foreign money to influence Hungarian politics," said Orban.
Further concern has been voiced by former Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski who said Soros had had a "decisive influence" on his nation's politics. "If it were not for George Soros behind it with all the millions he pours into Macedonia, the entire network of NGOs, media, politicians, inside and out … the economy would be stronger, we would have had more new jobs," he said. In Macedonia, the ruling party has backed a movement called "Stop Operation Soros".
Meanwhile, Romania's leaders have accused Soros-backed organisations of being behind the mass demonstrations against the new government's attempt to modify anti-corruption laws. Liviu Dragnea, who leads the governing party in Romania, said, "George Soros and the foundations and NGOs he has been setting up for years now in Romania have fed evil in Romania; he has financed various actions and none of them has done any good for the country." An anti-Soros campaign has been launched in Serbia where the prominent billionaire financier is accused by critics of "destabilising" the state.
Soros is a Hungarian refugee who moved to the UK in 1947.The Soros Foundation hit back at the allegations, arguing that the attacks on his NGOs came from governments that were failing to address social and economic issues.
By: N. Peter Kramer
