Parliament approves reforms that limit diversity and fundamental rights
In Hungary, Parliament has approved a controversial constitutional amendment that defines people solely as men or women, reinforcing a binary view of gender in the country’s Magna Carta. The measure, backed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government, is part of a series of reforms that have raised alarm bells both inside and outside its borders.
With an overwhelming majority—140 votes in favor compared to only 21 against—the new constitutional modification engraves in stone the existence of only two genders and reinforces other policies that worry human rights organizations. These include a provision that emphasizes “the primacy of children’s right to correct physical, mental and moral development over any other right,” an ambiguous formula that has been used to justify the ban on the Pride parade under the argument of protecting children.
An “Easter cleanup” that worries Europe
Orbán, a long-serving nationalist leader, had promised in March a “great Easter cleanup.” Under that motto, not only have laws been promoted that affect the LGTBIQ+ community, but an amendment has also been approved that allows the government to deprive people with dual nationality considered “traitors to the nation” of Hungarian citizenship, even by birth.
This policy, which evokes dark times in European history, has been harshly criticized by opposition voices and citizen groups. Opposition MP Timea Szabo recalled that protests against similar reforms already date back to 2011: “We never thought we would still be here 14 years later,” she noted.
Protests in the streets: the citizen voice does not give up
The approval of these measures has not gone unnoticed by citizens. In recent weeks, Budapest has been the scene of a wave of demonstrations. People dressed in gray, a symbol of the imposed uniformity, have taken to bridges and streets to express their rejection. On Saturday, thousands came out to protest once again, defying the cold and police repression. Some protests even reached the doors of Parliament, where protesters tried to block access and were evicted by the police.
Inside the building, opposition deputies displayed banners while shouts of “We will not allow ourselves to be transformed into Putin’s Russia” were heard, a message that summarizes the fear of an authoritarian drift.
Defense of childhood or excuse to censor?
Although the government assures that these reforms seek to protect minors and reinforce traditional values, many activists and human rights experts point out the danger of using child welfare as a pretext to restrict fundamental rights. Is it really possible to protect children by excluding diverse realities? Wouldn’t it be more harmful to raise new generations in an environment where only one way of being and loving is recognized?
The beginning of the end for plurality in Hungary?
These reforms have been criticized inside and outside the country for their exclusive nature and for contradicting fundamental democratic principles. Furthermore, they reopen the debate on the extent to which governments can intervene in personal identity and limit rights in the name of supposed collective values. Is Hungary an isolated case or are we witnessing a broader trend of rollback of rights in Europe?
