Subscribe to our social channels to get the latest news about Hungary!
Outgoing PM Orbán says no: Hungary won’t comply with EU court
Change language:
Hungary’s outgoing prime minister Viktor Orbán has informed President Tamás Sulyok in a letter that his government will not implement a recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) concerning Hungary’s 2021 so-called “child protection” legislation, according to Telex.
The letter was shared publicly by Gergely Gulyás, Fidesz’s incoming parliamentary group leader, who wrote on Facebook that “child protection belongs to Hungary” and that decisions on the matter “must be made by us”.
What Orbán wrote to the head of state
In the nearly three-page letter addressed to the president, Orbán argues that the CJEU’s decision was “political” rather than legal, and claims it raises EU law and constitutional concerns. On that basis, he states that “Hungary’s government will not implement” the EU court’s ruling.
Orbán also contends that the judgment disregarded Hungary’s Fundamental Law (Alaptörvény) and is incompatible with several constitutional provisions introduced under Fidesz’s two-thirds majority, including clauses defining family and sex, and language on protecting children’s identity.
Telex notes that Orbán is scheduled to step down next Saturday (9 May 2026), following Fidesz’s defeat in the 12 April parliamentary election.
If you missed it: A landmark ruling: Same-sex marriage could become recognised in Hungary too!
What the EU court ruled on Hungary’s child protection law
The CJEU ruled on 21 April 2026 that Hungary breached EU law through amendments adopted in 2021 under the banner of tougher action against paedophile offenders and child protection. The European Commission argued—and the court accepted—that parts of the legislation unlawfully restricted content relating to LGBTQ+ people, and that the measures were discriminatory and stigmatising.
In its public summary, the CJEU said
Hungary acted in breach of EU law by adopting a law that “stigmatises and marginalises” LGBTI+ persons.
Background for international readers: how the case reached Luxembourg
The European Commission launched infringement proceedings in 2021, shortly after the law was passed, and later brought the case to the CJEU in December 2022 after exchanges with Hungary failed to resolve the dispute. Multiple EU member states intervened in support of the Commission, according to Telex’s English-language report on the ruling.
Infringement actions can lead to further proceedings and, in certain cases, financial penalties if a member state does not comply with a judgment—an outcome EU institutions have used in other rule-of-law disputes.
Political and legal implications of non-compliance
Orbán’s declaration that the government will not implement the judgment sets up a direct confrontation with EU legal enforcement mechanisms, given the principle that CJEU rulings are binding on member states in areas covered by EU law.
The development also lands in the middle of Hungary’s political transition. Reuters and other outlets have reported that Péter Magyar’s Tisza party won a large parliamentary majority on 12 April, ending Orbán’s 16-year run as prime minister, with the new parliament expected to convene in early May.
For now, the letter indicates Orbán’s outgoing cabinet intends to hold its line until the handover, while framing the dispute as a matter of national constitutional identity and child protection policy.
Don’t miss our Hungary Weekly Briefing – The Hungary Insider — subscribe to our Substack and get it in your inbox every Saturday.
What's next? Mystery owner behind new Hungarian LGBTQI TV channel revealed: it will feature 18+ content too
No-one gives a half a s… about someone being LGQHDTVQWERTY123!@# whatever.
You’re a man who thinks he’s a woman. Be a woman. Or a goat. Or a bush. We all had imaginary friends and played imaginary games when we were kids; if you want to do some of that in adulthood, more power to you.
But when you try to exhibitionalize that and, worse, make an effort to convince children it’s perfectly normal? Yeah, that’s where a normal, sane society draws the line and gives you a reality check.
For the E.Yuck to try to force us to accommodate, INCLUDING LEGALLY!, grown adults’ delusions surely tells us all everything we need to know about that sick monstrosity.