Hungarian lawmakers on Monday voted to approve new constitutional changes proposed by the populist ruling party that target the LGBTQ community, including by , and a provision proclaiming that people can only be male or female.
The amendments had always been expected to easily pass due to leader Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party’s two-thirds majority, along with the likely support of far-right lawmakers.
Some of Monday’s amendments underpin legislation passed on March 18 that banned the annual Pride march in the country, which effectively restricted freedom of assembly.
The ban triggered protests against the changes fast-tracked by the Fidesz party, who said the event could be considered as harmful to children and protecting them would supersede the right to assemble.
“We won’t let woke ideology endanger our kids,” Orban said in March as he defended the move.
The amendments also codify “children’s rights” for their “proper physical, mental and moral development take precedence over all other fundamental rights,” except the right to life.
“Normal people like us are under constant provocation, because people who live according to non-traditional sexual behavior…. let off steam on the streets,” Orban had added in response to public protest over the amendments.
Protests planned throughout Monday
Ahead of the approval of the constitutional amendment, the opposition Momentum party attempted to blockade parliament to prevent the vote from taking place.
The party accused Orban’s government of being an “intimidating and cowardly power,” writing on social media: “Let’s collectively prevent them from leading us down the Putin road and depriving us of our freedom.”
Orban has been using increasingly repressive methods against critics independent civil organizations for years, justifying his actions by claiming that individuals and groups critical of the government harm Hungary and represent foreign interests.
The European Union has said that the Hungarian Prime Minister’s authoritarian methods have restricted the freedom of the media and the rule of law, which has led to some aid money being frozen.
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a human rights organization based in Hungary, had also announced their intention to hold a protest following the passing of the amendment, saying that the law “is a significant escalation in the Government’s efforts to suppress dissent and weaken human rights protection.”
Along with rights groups the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International and Háttér Society, the group have urged the European Commission to launch a procedure against Hungary’s government, arguing the amendment and other recent legislation breaches EU law.
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