July 27, 2021—Hungarian President Viktor Orbán doubled down on his country’s law barring any mention of LGBTQ issues in education and the media. Instead of acquiescing to the European Union Parliament’s recent condemnation of the domestic law, Orbán is planning a national referendum on the issue. The vote is to take place by late 2021 or early 2022.
Orbán said the law protects children from “sexual propaganda” and that any EU sanctions were unjust. Earlier this month, the EU Parliament voted overwhelmingly to suspend European funds to Hungary because of the new law. EU leaders said the law “constitutes a clear breach of the EU’s values, principles and law.”
Rebuke of EU ‘Abuse’
Orbán said the proposed five-question referendum is meant as a rebuke of EU “abuse” of Hungary, which is a member.
The planned referendum includes questions such as, “Do you support minors being shown, without any restriction, media content of a sexual nature that is capable of influencing their development?”
Multiple sources reported Hungary opposition leaders called for voters to boycott the vote.
This is not the first time Orbán planned a referendum against EU policies. In 2016 he launched a referendum against accepting the EU’s minimum rate of accepting refugees. According to The Guardian, that vote failed because less than half of registered voters participated. The majority of those who voted then voted approved the question.
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