The Hungarian Parliament has recently approved significant constitutional changes that target self-identified LGBTQ+ individuals. Additionally, the Orbán government has decided on further extensive measures to limit or end so-called “foreign-financed political networks” that undermine the country’s sovereignty.
The proposed amendment to the Constitution by the ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition was finally adopted with 140 votes against 21 and no abstentions on Monday. The amendment now explicitly states in the Hungarian Constitution that it aims to protect the institution of marriage as a “voluntary union of a man and a woman” and the family as the basis for the survival of the nation. The amendment further states that family ties should be based on marriage or the relationship between parents and children. The amendment also includes a ban on public LGBTQ+ events and states that the right of children to moral, physical and mental development should have precedence over all other fundamental rights, except the right to life.
In response to these changes, ZDF reported that non-binary individuals should not be recognized as such. The Spiegel reported that life for members of the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary will become harder, with Pride events potentially being banned under the new constitutional amendment.
In March, Hungary’s Parliament had already passed a bill to ban annual Pride parades, citing the need to protect children from contact with homosexuality. The recent amendment also includes a ban on public LGBTQ+ events and states that the right of children to moral, physical and mental development should have precedence over all other fundamental rights, except the right to life.
In 2020, Hungary abolished the legal recognition of transgender people and changed its child protection laws in 2021 to ban LGBTQ+ themes in media, advertising and educational materials that are accessible to minors. These measures have sparked a backlash in Brussels, with the European Commission taking legal action against Budapest and freezing billions of euros in EU funds due to alleged violations of fundamental rights.
This latest amendment is the 15th to the Hungarian Constitution since Orbán introduced it in 2011, with a preamble titled “National Statement of Faith.”
Opposition politicians and other sympathizers of the LGBTQ+ community attempted to block the entrance to the Parliament’s parking lot on Monday to prevent members of the ruling party from entering. During the session, opposition members tried to disrupt the proceedings with whistles, calling the changes a retreat from democracy and an attack on the EU’s fundamental values.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán commented on the amendment, stating that the international gender network should “keep its hands off our children.” He added that US President Donald Trump had ended the longstanding promotion of “diversity and integration” by Washington.
The Zeit reported that Orbán has increasingly warned of alleged foreign attempts to influence Hungary’s politics or even overthrow the government. In a conspiracy-theory-based speech, Orbán compared members of civil rights groups and critical media houses to insects and promised to “eliminate the entire shadow army of foreign-funded politicians, judges, journalists, pseudo-NGOs and political activists.”
Last December, Orbán declared that the 500-year hegemony of the West was over and that the “coming century will be the century of Eurasia.” He claimed that the strategy of “Westernizing the world” had failed and countries that could defend their values would prevail.
Last week, a draft of a Constitution law to anchor binary gender in Slovakia was approved in a second reading.