European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said she will use the powers available to her to force Hungary to overturn its new LGBT law.
The German leader of the European Commission made the comments yesterday, telling reporters that a Hungarian law banning the promotion of LGBT content among children is “a disgrace” and “flies in the face of the values of the European Union.”
“If Hungary does not rectify the situation, the commission will use its powers available as the guardian of the treaties,” she warned.
The Hungarian government was quick to respond, condemning what it called the EU’s “unprecedented campaign” against a member state’s rule of law.
“No matter what, Brussels wants to let LGBTQ activists into kindergartens and schools…we refuse to do so,” a government representative told reporters in Budapest.
The controversy follows the passage of the “Anti-Paedophilia Act” through the Hungarian parliament, with the law taking effect from today.
The new law bans the promotion of homosexuality and transgender theory among minors, prohibiting LGBT sex education and media content directed towards children.
Several MEPs have called on von der Leyen to suspend Covid-19 recovery payments to Hungary in an attempt to overturn the law, with some €7bn on the line should the EU pursue this strategy.
A handful of MEPs have defended Hungary however, calling the EU’s pronouncements “scandalous”.
“Hungary wants to protect its children against the delusion of gender theory,” French MEP Nicolas Bay said.
“Budapest is right.”