EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen spoke of a shame. Now Hungary has to answer to the European Supreme Court because of a law that restricts information about homosexuality.
EU Commission President von der Leyen has described the Hungarian homosexual law as a disgrace.
(dpa) The EU Commission is taking Hungary twice to the European Court of Justice for alleged violations of EU law. On the one hand, it is about a law restricting information about homosexuality and transsexuality, as the authority announced in Brussels on Friday. The other case concerns the actions of the Hungarian authorities against the independent radio station Klubradio.
«This Hungarian law is a disgrace»
The EU Commission monitors compliance with the rule of law in the international community. If Hungary does not comply with the ECJ rulings that are now to be expected, there is a risk of high fines. Critics have long accused right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban of undermining the rights of minorities, democratic institutions and freedom of the press, of subjugating the judiciary and stirring up resentment against foreigners.
The homosexual law had brought Orban strong headwind in the EU last year. “This Hungarian law is a disgrace,” said EU Commission President von der Leyen at the time. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte made it clear that he sees no place for Hungary in the EU if the government in Budapest continues like this.
The law came into force in July 2021. It bans publications accessible to children that depict non-heterosexual relationships. Advertising is also prohibited in which homosexuals or transsexuals appear as part of normality. Orban himself has rejected any criticism of the new rules – claiming that he is actually defending gay rights.
However, the EU Commission is of the opinion that the law discriminates against minorities on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity, among other things, and violates fundamental rights and EU values. Exactly one year ago, the authority initiated so-called infringement proceedings against Hungary. Budapest, meanwhile, did not assuage concerns.
The last independent broadcaster had to close
The same applies to the action against the club radio, probably the last professional independent radio station in the country. The station was forced to cease FM broadcasting in February 2021 because the government media agency failed to renew the broadcasting license. Since the right-wing Prime Minister Orban took office in 2010, the private broadcaster has been regularly subjected to repression by the media authorities. Among other things, before the license was revoked, he was only allowed to broadcast in the greater Budapest area. Currently, the club radio broadcasts its program only via the Internet – albeit with a much smaller reach.
The EU Commission justified the ECJ lawsuit on Friday with the fact that Hungary had applied the rules for extending the transmission frequency in an inappropriate and discriminatory manner.
The EU Commission is taking action against Hungary over a tank discount
In addition, according to the EU Commission, Hungary violates EU law by discriminating against foreigners at petrol stations. The Brussels authority initiated so-called infringement proceedings against the country on Friday. Accordingly, Hungary’s measure violates the rules of the internal market.
The Hungarian regulation stipulates that owners of vehicles with foreign registration plates are not allowed to benefit from state subsidies and therefore have to pay higher prices at petrol stations. According to the Commission, owners of Hungarian vehicles will pay 60 to 70 percent less for fuel as a result. The government of right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban introduced the discount against the background of high energy prices.
The Commission called on Hungary to abide by the rules on the free movement of goods and people within the EU, including in relation to transport services. Especially in the current situation, it is important that the internal market works in order to cushion the effects of the war in Ukraine on the economy. It was said that going it alone at the national level and discriminatory rules were not a solution.