EU in legal challenge to Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ stance

The European Commission will begin legal proceedings against Hungary over a controversial law curtailing LGBTQ content, in the latest spat between Brussels and Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government.

“The Hungarian bill is a shame,” commission president Ursula Von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday. “I will use all the powers of the commission to ensure that the rights of all EU citizens are guaranteed, whoever you are and wherever you live.”

Hungary’s parliament last week approved legislation outlawing content for children that can be deemed to “promote homosexuality”. The bill, which pairs homosexuality with paedophilia, builds on previous legislation adopted in Hungary in 2020, including putting an effective ban on adoption by same-sex partners and enshrining in the constitution that marriage is possible only between a man and a woman.

The legislation has provoked a furious reaction in Brussels and in West European capitals. On Tuesday, 13 EU governments issued a joint declaration condemning it, as it “represents a flagrant form of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression”.

While Wednesday’s expected action from the European Commission is just the start of long-drawn legal proceedings that will have no immediate effect on Hungary, the move adds to signs that the commission will take a tough stance when assessing whether the alleged descent of Hungary and Poland towards authoritarianism presents a risk for EU funds.

Later this year, the EU’s executive arm may propose the freezing of payments from the bloc’s jointly financed stimulus programme and common budget towards the two countries governed by hard right populist parties. The proposal, which would need the backing of a weighted majority of European governments, could mean that billions of euros in EU funds could be withheld over the lack of democratic checks and balances to ensure they will not be misappropriated.

To protest the law, the city of Munich had planned to illuminate its stadium in rainbow colours when Germany meets Hungary for a soccer match in the Euro 2020 tournament later on Wednesday.

While European soccer body Uefa denied the request, Munich authorities said they will decorate city hall in rainbow flags and light up a wind turbine close to the arena in the colours of the pride flag. Stadiums in several other German cities will also be illuminated in solidarity with the LGBTQ movement.

Orban, who had planned to attend the game in person, has since cancelled his trip to Munich, according to a person familiar with the planning.

Bloomberg News. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com