Hungary's new government removes anti-LGBTQI laws, easing tensions with the EU and unlocking funds.
Government proposes legal changes
On September 14, the government led by Peter Magyar introduced a draft amendment to remove homophobic language from the "child protection" law passed in June 2021 under Viktor Orban's administration. The proposed changes aimed to address criticism from the European Union (EU) regarding the law's treatment of LGBTQI individuals.Parliament approves revised law
A month later, on October 13, the Hungarian Parliament approved a revised version of the legislation that removed the anti-LGBTQI provisions previously criticized by the EU. This move signals the new government's effort to improve relations with the EU after tensions over the earlier law.EU legal action against Hungary
The anti-LGBTQI legislation introduced by Orban's Fidesz party was condemned by the EU, which initiated an infringement procedure in 2021 and referred the matter to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in December 2022. In April, the CJEU ruled against Hungary, stating that the country had failed to meet its EU law obligations through the legislation.New policies ease restrictions
According to Euronews, the revised law removes the requirement to wrap books about homosexuality or gender transition in plastic, reintroduces educational programs on LGBTQI topics in schools, and relaxes media classification rules for LGBTQI content. These changes are seen as significant steps toward normalizing relations with the EU.
