Hungarian MPs scrap Orbán's anti-LGBTQ measures

On Tuesday, the Hungarian parliament amended child protection laws, eliminating measures that stigmatized gay and transgender individuals. The 2021 Child Protection Law, enacted by then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Fidesz majority, prohibited the portrayal or promotion of homosexuality or transgenderism. In the weeks following Orbán's election loss, the Tisza government, led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar, has been working to undo Orbán's legacy.

Immediately following the vote, Budapest announced that the European Union would release €4.2 billion in funds previously frozen under the previous government. The European Commission had earlier stated that the Magyar government had addressed several rule of law violations impacting the EU budget. The Hungarian parliament's action on Tuesday was part of a comprehensive package of laws aimed at dismantling Fidesz legislation.

LGBTQ and human rights advocates expressed joy over the amendment but called for further changes to other Orbán-era laws. While the Fidesz and Tisza governments initially portrayed themselves as champions of children's rights, the 2021 law's impact on other areas, including education and assembly rights, became evident. The child protection issue transformed from a political asset to a liability for Orbán when it was revealed that his government had backed the pardon of a deputy head of a children's home accused of covering up sexual abuse.

The public backlash contributed to the new government's decision to repeal the anti-LGBTQ measures. Péter Magyar's Tisza party currently holds a two-thirds majority, enabling the passage of the amendment. Both political parties initially voted against the new laws but ultimately supported the repeal. Magyar stated that his government aims to represent all Hungarians, including sexual minorities, while acknowledging the sensitive nature of these issues.