Hungary has banned Pride events in its latest protest crackdown, as thousands marched last week to express their discontent with the proposed law. In other words, supporting the LGBT movement is now banned. It is not only that one is now allowed to stage or attend Pride events, but that consequences are more than severe. The recently-passed law allows Viktor Orbán’s regime to track event organizers through face recognition technology, and fine organizers up to 500€. Needless to say this is deeply anti-European, with the EU Charter, signed in 2000, aims to fight “against any type of discrimination, including on grounds of sexual orientation.”
Viktor Orbán’s relationship with the European Union has never been an easy one. Since 2024, Hungary ranks as the most corrupt country in the EU, according to the Corruption Perception Index (CPI). While corruption is a widespread issue in the EU, Hungary’s cause has raised questions about the purpose at the heart of the Union. Until recently, many decisions could be blocked by the right of veto, retained by every member state. Hungary abused this right, blocking key decisions such as sending aid packages to Ukraine. Furthermore, Orbán has continued to show his disdain with the EU while attempting to reach more deals with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Despite his anti-European actions, Viktor Orbán has never faced any consequences. The EU continues to fund projects in Hungary, despite Orbán’s anti-democratic behaviour. The Hungarian leader has created a “mafia” state since he was voted to power in 2010 and has altered Hungary’s constitution to his taste.
A report published by international NGO Human Rights Watch in 2024 highlighted how media pluralism has regularly been under attack under Orbán’s leadership. In 2023, only Greece ranked worse in Media Freedom in the EU, taking the 72nd place in the ranking. The government has taken full control of the media narrative, claiming all publicly-owned media as a propaganda tool, while investigative journalists seen as ‘opponents’ have suffered government-led smear campaigns. With Orbán’s government retaining the absolute majority in 2010, his party Fidesz have passed laws as they please. Without a doubt, this is once again a clear violation of the EU Charter.
Furthermore, journalists cannot do their job anymore. For a democracy to function, freedom of information is essential. However, in Hungary, journalists are often blacklisted from press conferences, while access to data is regularly forbidden. If journalists cannot verify what the government claims, there is no transparency. Once again, this is an obvious violation of Human Rights.
Hungary has been an obstacle to European development in every sense of the word. Orbán has often described Brussels as his principal enemy, claiming in 2023 that “Brussels has become a symbol of oppression for many people”. Just before the EU elections, Orbán claimed that “The European Parliament is a dead end, it represents George Soros and not the people”.
All of this raises the following question: if Hungary fails to implement the EU Charter, shows no willingness to help the EU agenda, and believes the EU is the ultimate opponent, why is it still in the EU? Orbán has publicly shown disdain for the EU, a Union nobody forced him to join. It is senseless to have one national blocking every decision, especially in critical times in the context of the Russian invasion.
Banning Hungary from the EU, although possible, would be unproductive. Hungarians do not agree with Orbán, which they demonstrated by staging protests against the latest anti-Pride proposal. Data published by Hungarian news portal 444.hu revealed that 2024 marked the year with the most emigration by Hungarians, with over 40,000 leaving the country. There is no doubt that Hungarians do not feel represented by Orbán and Fidesz. What could however prove to be productive, would be to suspend Hungary’s voting rights in European Institutions. The author will also argue that it is senseless to continue funding Hungary, when a majority of these public funds only reach the pockets of dictator Orbán and his associated oligarchs.
The situation is difficult enough as it is, between troubled relations with the USA since he returned to power in November, as well as the Russian invasion in Ukraine. The last thing the EU needs is a black sheep, acting as a Russian spy at the heart of the Union. Until now, Orbán has virtually faced no consequence for his deep hatred against the EU, which have cost lives in Ukraine and elsewhere. Until Europe retaliates, Orbán will have no reason to change. Hungary’s people have spoken, and the time has come for the EU to act in the name of all Hungarians. Orbán’s regime has no business taking EU public funds for his own goods, while investing the money in anti-European efforts.
