Summary
Hungary’s parliament passed a law banning Pride events and allowing facial recognition to identify and fine attendees.
The legislation, backed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s party, passed 136-27 and expands Hungary’s “child protection” law, which restricts LGBTQ+ content. Amnesty International condemned it as a “full-frontal attack” on LGBTQ+ rights.
Critics argue Orbán is scapegoating minorities to distract from economic issues and boost far-right support ahead of elections.
Budapest Pride organizers vowed to proceed with their march despite fines of up to 200,000 forints (£425).
People calling for collective punishment of a whole nation are irrational. Even sanctions won’t do shit.
The problem is reach. Whatever the EU does, thanks to Orbán and his cronies owning all terrestrial media and major online publications, the opposition gets drowned out in a sea of disinfo, controlling the rural population, which is 70% of the country. Antennae television and radio stations are still big there. Budapest ALWAYS votes against Fidesz.
EU needs to dust off Radio Free Europe, and also disperse leaflets in the countryside. Spend the EU money that Hungary would have gotten on such a campaign. Focus the campaign on the state of poverty, corruption, inflation, class division, infrastructure, education and health care collapse, instead of this sham parade of their “child protection act” that they want the population (and the EU) to focus on.
The rule should be that if any country loses a condition that is a prerogative for joining the EU they should be put on a track to leave. If you dismantle democracy and hold the union hostage for millions, whilst shitting on its ideals. -> change your ways or get out.