BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday accused European leaders of appearing like “colonialists” of their criticism of a controversial regulation that’s seen as limiting the rights of LGBT folks in that nation.
European Union leaders challenged Orban on the regulation at a summit in Brussels final week, with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte suggesting that the Hungarian chief ought to both uphold EU values or pull out of the 27-member bloc.
Talking on public radio, Orban defied calls to repeal the regulation which prohibits the “show or promotion” of homosexuality or gender reassignment in tv exhibits, movies and sexual teaching programs to children in colleges.
“They behave like colonialists,” Orban mentioned of his EU critics. “They need to dictate what legal guidelines ought to take impact out of the country, they need to inform us how you can dwell our lives and how you can behave.” He added that the criticism was a results of “dangerous reflexes attributable to their European colonialist previous.”
Hungary’s right-wing authorities – which faces elections subsequent yr – insists the regulation is critical to make sure that the sexual schooling of youngsters beneath 18 is the only area of fogeys.
However LGBT advocacy teams and high-ranking politicians in Europe have slammed the laws, arguing it stigmatizes sexual minorities and seeks to stifle discourse on sexual orientation.
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen final week known as the regulation “a disgrace,” and despatched a letter to Hungary demanding a clarification of its impression on basic rights.
The heads of 17 EU international locations signed a joint letter condemning the laws, and urged the European Fee to take Hungary earlier than the European Courtroom of Justice over the matter.
