MEPs call for EU court action after Hungary passes constitutional amendment to ban LGBTQ+ public events

Hungary's parliament has passed a constitutional amendment allowing the government to ban public LGBTQ+ events, including the annual Budapest Pride march. The amendment, approved on April 14 with a two-thirds majority by the ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition, declares that children's rights to moral, physical, and spiritual development take precedence over other fundamental rights, including the right to peaceful assembly.

The amendment builds upon existing "child protection" laws that prohibit the depiction or promotion of homosexuality to minors under 18. It also permits authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify participants in banned events, with potential fines of up to 200,000 Hungarian forints ($546).

Critics argue that these measures represent a significant step toward authoritarianism and infringe upon democratic freedoms. Legal scholars and human rights organizations have expressed concern over the suppression of civil liberties and the targeting of LGBTQ+ communities.

In response, a delegation of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) visited Hungary and called upon the European Court of Justice to suspend the new law. Tineke Strik, a Dutch Green MEP leading the delegation, stated that developments in Hungary are "rapidly going in the wrong direction," emphasizing the need to uphold democratic values and human rights within the EU.

The European Commission has indicated its readiness to take action against Hungary if necessary, underscoring the ongoing tensions between the Hungarian government and EU institutions over issues of rule of law and fundamental rights.

Michał Wawrykiewicz, a centre-right Polish MEP, said the group had observed an “indisputable deterioration of the situation” and “an open denial of the rule of law.” He also said some officials had shown a “very aggressive approach toward us” and “rude behaviour”.

Hungary's government has intensified its campaign against LGBTQ+ communities, asserting that its "child protection" policies - which prohibit access by minors to any material referencing homosexuality - are essential to shield children from what it terms "woke ideology" and "gender madness." These measures, however, have drawn significant criticism from legal experts and human rights advocates, who contend that they serve more as political instruments than protective legislation.

Critics argue that these policies do little to safeguard children and instead function as distractions from more pressing national issues, such as economic challenges and governance concerns. They suggest that by targeting LGBTQ+ communities, the government aims to mobilize its right-wing base ahead of upcoming elections, diverting attention from other systemic problems facing the country.