Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (Screenshot via France 24 YouTube)
In an interview with Hungarian state media Sept. 17, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, of blocking funding for his country’s coronavirus recovery plan over its anti-LGBTQ policies.
“The funds are loans that Brussels does not want to give us because of the debate on our LGBT policy,” he said.
A spokesperson for the EU said that the refusal to sign-off on Hungary’s planned spending and validation of Hungary’s recovery plans is not related on the recent passage of anti-LGBTQ laws. The EU maintains that its concerns are the lack of independence of the Hungarian judiciary coupled with an insufficient fight against corruption.
The deadline for the EU Commission to review Hungary’s plan was extended until the end of this month. Orban’s government had submitted its plan last May. The EU has yet to disburse the allocated €7.2m in grants.
The Hungarian National Assembly approved legislation in June that prohibits sharing with anyone under the age of 18 any material that portrays or describes homosexuality or gender identity linking it to another legislative measure by an amendment that purports to protect minors against pedophilia.
In a statement to France 24 English in June, Orban defended the law saying that he was supportive of LGBTQ rights but he characterized the law as to defend the right of parents to educate their children in regards to human sexuality.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has publicly labeled the law a “disgrace.”
“This bill clearly discriminates against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and it goes against all the values, the fundamental values of the European Union and this is human dignity, it is equality and is human fundamental rights, so we will not compromise on these principles,” said von der Leyen.
In July the law, which had added a provision banning sex-reassignment surgery to minors, took effect.
Despite the increasing backlash to the anti-LGBTQ law and policies, Hungarian officials continue to support the measures. On Facebook Sept. 15, Hungary’s Justice Minister Judit Varga wrote that it is her country’s right to protect its “culture, national identity and the family values rooted in them.” taking aim at EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, Varga noted, “We reject categorically the assumption that the purpose of the law would be exclusion or discrimination. […] It’s only about the upbringing of Hungarian children and the protection of minors.
