Twenty EU countries have given Hungary both barrels over the official banning of LGBTQ+ events in Budapest, namely Pride.
Viktor Órban's ruling FIDESZ party, which seems to have a very cosy relationship with Putin's Russia, has introduced legal changes, which clobber organisers and participants of any such events, which obviously goes against Europe's - and most decent countries' - support for freedom of association.
The new legislation, passed last month, introduces fines of up to 200,000 forints (approximately £420) for anyone violating the ban on LGBTQ+ marches. As if that wasn't enough, authorities plan to implement facial recognition technology to identify participants, which led to widespread criticism from various quarters, including a strong joint statement from countries such as France, Germany, and Spain, who labelled this as a violation of fundamental rights. These nations have committed to supporting legal actions against the Hungarian government.
The recent legislative moves in Hungary fit within a broader pattern of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment championed by Orbán's administration. This includes earlier restrictions detailed in a Child Protection Law, passed in 2021, which clearly conflates homosexuality with paedophilia and limits the representation of LGBTQ+ issues in media and education. This law has incited legal challenges involving multiple EU countries, with the European Commission pursuing actions in the courts to uphold member states' rights and freedoms.
Organisations such as LGBT Ireland have portrayed Hungary's recent actions as a 'full-frontal attack' on human rights and there have been calls for the suspension of EU funding to Hungary until compliance with European values are re-established.
Source: Noah Wire Services