Brussels takes next step against Hungarian LGBTI policy
BRUSSELS (ANP) – is one step closer to the European Commission against Hungary over its dealings with gays and transgenders. If Hungary does not come up with a defense for two months, take steps within the committee. This can impose fines and periodic penalty payments.
The committee previously asked Hungary for clarification about a controversial LGBTI law. This should prevent children from coming into contact with homosexuality, transgenders and gender reassignment at school or through books and films. The committee also demanded a text and explanation about a warning in, for example, a children’s book about a lesbian Cinderella. But in both cases, the response from the government in Budapest has disappointed, the executive board of the EU says.
Hungary has received a new letter in which the commission explains why the ‘propaganda ban’ and the mandatory warning are withdrawn. The country is said to discriminate against LGBT people and violate freedom of expression. Hungary has two months to rectify this and defend itself. If it remains unsatisfactory, Brussels can go to the European Court.
Third song
Prime Minister Viktor’s government has yet to draft a third itself. She also violated EU rules by taking the country’s independent channel off the air, the commission said. Revocation of the license of Klubradio, one of the last Hungarian media to critically follow the Orbán government, was an excessively severe punishment, she said.
Most of the Hungarian media has been turned into a mouthpiece for the government in recent years, shut down by Orbán’s allies.