Orbán says he will ignore ECJ ruling against Hungary's anti-LGTBI law

Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, has declared his intention to ignore a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that condemned his government's controversial law targeting the LGBTQ+ community. In a letter addressed to the President of Hungary, Orbán asserted that the ECJ's decision represents a significant infringement upon both the sovereignty of member states and Hungary's fundamental constitutional identity.

Orbán explicitly stated that due to "political, legal, and constitutional concerns" surrounding the ruling, the Hungarian government would not implement the decision. This defiance comes after the ECJ ruled that Hungary's law, which prohibits content related to sexual minorities in schools and media under the guise of child protection, contravenes core European Union values. The court emphasized that Hungary cannot invoke its national identity to justify legislation that violates these shared principles.

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The Court's ruling poses a serious violation of both the sovereignty of the Member States and the constitutional identity.

This stance by Orbán is consistent with his government's broader narrative of defending national sovereignty against perceived overreach from Brussels. The law itself has faced widespread criticism both domestically and internationally for being homophobic, notably for linking homosexuality with pedophilia. The European Commission brought the case against Hungary in 2021. This defiance occurs shortly after Orbán's Fidesz party suffered a significant electoral defeat, with the opposition Tisza party securing a strong majority. The incoming government is expected to be formed by mid-May, potentially shifting the political landscape in Hungary.

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Given the political, legal, and constitutional concerns related to the decision (of the ECJ), the Government of Hungary will not execute the decision.