In brief
The ruling Fidesz party in Hungary has passed an amendment mandating only two genders, a move seen as a strategy by Prime Minister Viktor Orban to rally his conservative base ahead of elections and divert attention from domestic challenges.
In a significant cultural shift, Hungary’s governing Fidesz party, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has officially amended the Constitution to define all citizens strictly as either male or female. This move was widely viewed as a response to what Orban labels as "gender madness" and as a means to bolster his conservative support in light of mounting economic issues and a rising opposition ahead of the upcoming elections.Following a vote in Parliament where Fidesz holds a commanding majority, Orban affirmed, “The international gender network must take its hands off our children.” He further expressed how recent political developments in the United States, notably the re-election of former President Trump, appear to have invigorated conservative movements globally. The constitutional amendment also establishes protections for the physical, mental, and moral development of children, which reinforces a previously enacted law prohibiting pride events, framed by Orban as detrimental to children’s welfare. In a further consolidation of power, the legislature also amended provisions enabling the government to revoke the citizenship of dual nationals deemed a threat to national security, targeting critics who have sought second citizenship abroad.Orban's recent actions are part of a broader strategy, referred to as a “spring cleaning” of Hungarian politics, aimed at eliminating dissent, which he derogatively termed "stink bugs," thereby signaling a hardline approach to both governance and societal norms.
