Hungary's right-wing conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced a referendum on the controversial LGBTQ law in his country, thereby challenging Brussels.
In a video published on his Facebook page, Orbán called on the population on Wednesday to support the law, which has been severely criticized by the EU.
The English abbreviation LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer.
Critics in Hungary see members of these sexual minorities as being discriminated against.
"Brussels has clearly attacked Hungary over the past few weeks because of the law," said Orbán. The controversial LGBTQ law banning “advertising” for homosexual and transsexuality came into force in early July. Books on this subject now have to be labeled in Hungary with the notice “Prohibited for under 18-year-olds”, films are no longer allowed to be broadcast during prime time. The government's officially declared goal is the protection of minors, and activists speak of a blow against the LGBTQ community. The EU launched infringement proceedings against Budapest last week in response to the law.
Europe will never allow “parts of our society to be discriminated”, said EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen. The Hungarian government condemned Brussels' "attacks" on the law as "politically motivated". Against the entry into force of the law there were protests by human rights activists and relatives and sympathizers of the LGBTQ community in Hungary.