The referendum is considered a response of Hungary’s hard-line, nationalist government to such criticism. The vote will take place the same day as Hungary’s general parliamentary elections on April 3.
Viktor Orban, Hungary’s populist right-wing prime minister, has stated that the law does not violate LGBTQ rights but preserves parents’ rights to decide how to educate their children.
Orban has proposed a referendum that will ask five questions about the public’s support for the “promotion of content related sexual orientation to children” and is asking them to vote “no.”
The European Commission launched a legal action against Hungary in July. It stated that Budapest had not explained why children were exposed to LGBTIQ content.
Orban suggested that a referendum be held in July. He referred to a 2016 referendum in which Hungary had rejected the EU’s refugee resettlement plan, but failed to meet a threshold for voting — rendering the referendum illegal.
He said, “Then, a referendum was held and the people’s will prevailed against Brussels.” “We have already achieved success once, and together we will achieve again.”