Could Hungary break the EU?

The EU is facing a democracy crisis, and there is nothing it can do about it.

Hungary’s controversial new anti-LGBTQ law which took effect on July 7 has blown open tensions within the EU over what to do with a rogue member state. The new bill – which includes the new Child Protection Act and the Family Protection Act – was initially designed to protect children from paedophiles following a scandal last year when the Hungarian Ambassador to Peru received just a small fine for possessing thousands of indecent photos of minors. The problems started, however, when Hungary’s governing party Fidesz added amendments in June to restrict LGBTQ education and rights, including outlawing information perceived as promoting homosexuality or gender change to minors in schools, in adverts and even on TV shows before the 10pm watershed. This move has provoked a furious response from fellow EU leaders. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte took the firmest stance, stating on June 24 that Hungary deserved to be ejected from the EU and pledging to bring Hungary “to its knees” on the LGBTQ issue. The new law is seen to undermine Article 2 of the founding treaty of the EU, which states that discrimination against anyone on the basis of sexuality, ethnicity and gender are not allowed under the terms of membership.