The 13 countries expressed “deep concern” about the law passed by the Hungarian Parliament last week. It discriminates against LGBTQI people and violates “the right to freedom of expression under the pretext of protecting children”.
The law against “advertising” for homosexuality towards minors was introduced by the Fidesz party of right-wing nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Educational programs on homosexuality or advertising by large companies that express solidarity with homosexuals are therefore prohibited, as are educational books on the subject.
European Minister of State Michael Roth (SPD) had already announced that morning at a meeting with his EU colleagues in Luxembourg that Germany would support the declaration. “We have to send a clear signal,” he said. The decision of the Hungarian parliament “clearly violates EU values”.
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, on the other hand, defended the law in Luxembourg. It is not directed against a minority and should protect minors from pedophiles, he said. Szijjarto accused critics of “spreading false information” and protested against interference in “national competencies” in Hungary.
In addition to Germany and the Benelux countries, according to the Belgian government, the following nine countries also supported the critical explanation: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Spain and Sweden. This means that around half of the total of 27 EU countries agreed to criticize Hungary.
European Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) has expressed concern about the anti-pedophile law hostile to the LGTB in Hungary. The protection of minors from pedophilia is “a very important matter, here we also need strict penalties,” said Edtstadler before the meeting with her EU counterparts. But a link with homosexuality and the withholding of information for young people and children is “really worrying”. At the same time, Edtstadler emphasized, “I’m a trained judge and I’m used to the fact that you first get all the facts on the table before you form a final judgment”.
