The EU warns Orban on LGBT rights, ‘ready to act’

Brussels (ANSA) – The European Commission is “aware of the amendments to the Hungarian constitution adopted by the Hungarian parliament.” “We must examine them very carefully” “from the perspective of European law. As for actions, we will not hesitate to act if necessary,” said the Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova, regarding the amendment to the Fundamental Law adopted by Hungary.

“Our position on these rights is extremely clear. We support the LGBTQ+ community. The law presents several aspects to examine. We will analyze it and then see where we stand in relation to EU law,” added spokesperson Arianna Podestà.

The Hungarian Parliament has approved an amendment to the Constitution that significantly restricts civil liberties and human rights. Central to the reform is the primacy of children’s rights to “proper physical, intellectual, and moral development” over other fundamental rights, except for the right to life, and including the freedom of peaceful assembly, a loophole that bans Pride marches.

The amendment also allows the use of facial recognition to track and fine participants. The changes to the Fundamental Law also concern the definition of gender. “A person’s sex at birth is a biological characteristic and can be male or female,” states the approved text. With this new amendment, legal recognition for transgender and intersex people is therefore eliminated.

In recent days, the European Commissioner for Justice Michel McGrath had already warned the Budapest government, opening the possibility of an infringement procedure as already happened with another anti-LGBT measure adopted by Hungary that prohibits the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ to minors (April 15).