Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban is targeting the “gender insanity” of the West in efforts to seek a fourth term in office.
On the same day as national elections in two weeks, Orban plans to hold a referendum to confirm legislation that would outlaw the “promotion of gender non-conformity, gender reassignment, homosexuality”.
Orban faces a challenge from the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen who has stated an intent to “use all her powers” to stop these laws if enacted.
Hungarian PM Viktor Orban
SARAH MEYSSONNIER
On the anniversary of Hungary’s 1848 national revolution, Orban told a campaign rally: “This is why we will win the referendum to stop at Hungary’s borders the gender insanity sweeping across the western world. We shall protect our families and our children — a father is a man, a mother is a woman and leave our children alone.”
Sex change treatment for minors is already illegal in Hungary, voters are set to be asked: “Do you support the promotion of sex reassignment therapy for underage children?”
The votes are set to take place on Sunday 3rd April and various EU leaders will be closely watching the result after Orban has repeatedly clashed with the transnational organisation over the years.
Katalin Cseh, an MEP from the Liberal Momentum Movement, told The Times they thought the referendum was a “smokescreen” to distract from other issues.
She said: “Orban always has to have an enemy, somebody to rally the country against…Brussels is always the enemy. It is an imaginary war that Orban has been waging for a decade.