Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Commission has significant worries regarding the rule of law in Hungary, stated European Commissioner for Democracy Michael McGrath in Belgium before assembling with European nation’s foreign affairs ministers.
The ruling party in Budapest presented a measure to parliament in March that would limit the Pride march organized by LGBTQ+ communities and penalize both organizers and participants of the event, which has been held in Hungary for thirty years.
How does Hungary’s pride ban breach EU law?
Citing a Hungarian proposed law aimed at prohibiting the Pride march for LGBTQ+ individuals communities, McGrath said:
“We believe this constitutes a breach of EU law, which is why we have urged the Viktor Orban’s government to cancel the draft regulation. If that does not happen and they move forward with enacting this legislation, we are prepared to utilise our available tools disposal.”
Is Hungary undermining LGBTQ+ rights for political gain?
Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been stepping up his campaign ahead of the early-next-year elections by denouncing LGBTQ+ people and vowing to limit foreign funding for opposition parties, independent media, and non-governmental institutions in Budapest in recent weeks.
“The proposed bill revises the law regarding the right of assembly by stating that holding an assembly that contravenes the restrictions outlined in the law on protection is prohibited for children,”
according to the law.
Additionally, it claims that police may use face recognition cameras to identify attendees of the event, which involves participants marching along Andrassy Avenue, a wide thoroughfare in the heart of Budapest.
Can the EU halt Hungary’s democratic backsliding?
Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accused Hungary of repeatedly transgressing EU norms, including reducing the function of independent institutions and reducing democratic monitoring. Since 2010, the EU has been concerned about Hungary’s degradation of its democratic institutions’ checks and balances, judicial independence, and rule of law.
Due to this escalation, EU funding has been delayed, and Hungary is now in danger of having its EU voting rights suspended as a result of Article 7 processes.
