The incident occurred after the parliament voted on the amendment of the assembly law to ban Pride.Continue reading
The European Commission stands firmly by the LGBTQ community in Hungary and in all Member States, EU Commissioner for the Rule of Law Michael McGrath said in Strasbourg on Wednesday. Fidesz MEPs reacted immediately, saying that the right of children to healthy physical and mental development must be a priority.
Speaking in the European Parliament’s plenary debate on “Recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights”, Michael McGrath said there was no room for discrimination in the European Union. He was referring to the amendment of the assembly law, effectively putting a ban on the Pride parade in Budapest.
As the civil space is shrinking in Hungary, Hungarian NGOs deserve our support,”
he emphasized.
In Strasbourg today, I made it clear that the EU is no place for discrimination.
Fundamental rights, whether they be equality, democracy or the rule of law, are core values of our
We will not hesitate to take action to ensure respect for fundamental rights across the EU. pic.twitter.com/Er99L42jds
— Michael McGrath (@EUCssrMcGrath) April 2, 2025
On the recently adopted amendment to the law on the right of assembly in the context of the protection of children, he stressed that the European Union is a union of freedom and equality. Everyone can be who he or she is and live and love as and who he or she wants, he added. Fundamental rights must be defended across Europe as the cornerstone of democracy. The right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly applies to all European citizens, including Hungarians, Mr McGrath underlined.
The EU Commissioner said that in Hungary, the Child Protection Law, which he does not see as begin compatible with EU law, is being used to ban assemblies. It goes against the values set out in the relevant articles of the EU Treaty and the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. The child protection law stigmatizes the LGBTQ community, such content is harmful to the development of children, he pointed out.
The Hungarian law contains provisions that are unjustified, do not promote fundamental interests and are disproportionate to the stated aim, he continued.
The European Commission will not hesitate to launch infringement proceedings to ensure that the rule of law and fundamental rights are respected in Hungary,
the Commissioner added.
In his speech, Fidesz MEP Tamás Deutsch stressed that the protection of the best interests of the children has been constitutionally confirmed in Hungary.
The right of children to healthy physical and mental development must be a priority. The depiction of sexuality for its own sake is prohibited. The Hungarian solution is exemplary,”
he explained.
Protests in Hungary are freer than anywhere else in Europe, he continued. He added that while Europe was overrun by illegal migrants, the competitiveness of European economies was in ruins, and inflation and energy prices were sky-high due to the failed sanctions policy, the EP was amusing itself with “another shoddy political theater attacking Hungary”.
Another day, another political performance in the @Europarl_EN attacking Hungary. This is a distraction from the real problems Europe is facing: illegal migration, economic decline, and sky-high energy prices.
‘Even if you held debates about Hungary every week, even if you… pic.twitter.com/4iqomLkKyB
— FideszEP (@FideszEP) April 2, 2025
András László, Fidesz MEP, stressed in his speech that non-discrimination in the case of sexual orientation is guaranteed in Hungarian law. In Hungary, however, it is the children and parents who come first. “We stand up for the right of parents to decide what is best for the physical, moral and intellectual development of their children.
We are not trying to interfere in your countries’ internal affairs, nor should you in ours,”
he emphasized.
In her speech, Zsuzsanna Borvendég, MEP for the Our Homeland Movement, said the Hungarian amendment in question was taking on one of the most powerful and dangerous lobbies in the world, which openly seeks to dismantle the traditional social order. “We call on the Hungarian government to be even more consistent and effective in protecting families from the attacks of rainbow lobby organizations and to stop the prosecution of those who have spoken out against the dissemination of LGBTQ propaganda in schools,” she stated.
Via MTI, Featured photo via Pixabay
