EU to Hungary's Orban: Respect LGBT rights or leave | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Saturday
July 12, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2025
EU to Hungary's Orban: Respect LGBT rights or leave

Europe

Reuters
25 June, 2021, 09:30 pm
Last modified: 25 June, 2021, 09:34 pm

Related News

  • Why legal literacy should be mandatory in every Bangladeshi school
  • EU to invest €1b in Bangladesh, plans to double
  • Israel may have breached EU agreement, bloc's foreign policy arm says
  • Trump calls for 50% tariff on EU, starting June 1
  • National Charter aims to safeguard citizens' rights: Ali Riaz

EU to Hungary's Orban: Respect LGBT rights or leave

French President Emmanuel Macron called it a "cultural battle", acknowledging a deepening rift with increasingly assertive illiberal leaders that is hurting EU cohesion

Reuters
25 June, 2021, 09:30 pm
Last modified: 25 June, 2021, 09:34 pm
File Photo: Reuters
File Photo: Reuters

Respect LGBT rights or leave the European Union, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Hungary's premier as EU leaders confronted Viktor Orban over a law that bans schools from using materials seen as promoting homosexuality.

Several EU summit participants spoke of the most intense personal clash among the bloc's leaders in years on Thursday night.

"It was really forceful, a deep feeling that this could not be. It was about our values; this is what we stand for," Rutte told reporters on Friday.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

"I said 'Stop this, you must withdraw the law and, if you don't like that and really say that the European values are not your values, then you must think about whether to remain in the European Union'."

French President Emmanuel Macron called it a "cultural battle", acknowledging a deepening rift with increasingly assertive illiberal leaders that is hurting EU cohesion.

"To fight against homophobic laws is to defend individual freedoms and human dignity," he said, adding that Hungary should remain a member of the EU.

"Very Different Ideas"

Unless it rows back, Hungary faces a legal challenge at the EU's highest court. Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said Orban should also be subject to an as-yet untested procedure to cut EU funding for those who violate rules.

The new mechanism was introduced as closely aligned conservative governments in Poland and Hungary have shielded one another for years from sanctions under existing measures to protect EU democratic and human rights values.

The provisions for schools have been included in a law primarily aimed at protecting children from paedophiles, a link that Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo described as "primitive".

Orban, who has been Hungary's prime minister since 2010 and faces an election next year, has become more conservative and combative in promoting what he says are traditional Catholic values under pressure from the liberal West.

Describing himself as a "freedom fighter", Orban told reporters before the meeting that the law was not an attack on gay people but aimed at guaranteeing parents' right to decide on their children's sexual education.

The EU is pushing Orban to repeal the law - the latest in a string of restrictive policies towards media, judges, academics and migrants.

Seventeen of the 27 EU leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, signed a joint letter reaffirming their commitment to protecting gay rights.

"We all made it very clear which fundamental values we adhere to," Merkel said.

She said she shared Macron's assessment that some EU countries have "very different ideas" about Europe.

Bettel, who is openly gay, said the only country other than Poland to support Orban in the discussion was Slovenia, whose prime minister has also been accused of undermining the independence of the media.

Bettel said it was time for Brussels to test its new procedure: "Most of the time, money is more convincing than talk."

EU / Hungary / Orban / Respect / LGBT / Rights

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • A file photo of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman speaking virtually at a party programme. Photo: Collected
    'Why is govt allowing this': Tarique calls for crackdown on mob violence
  • Bangladesh and US hold tariff talks on 11 July 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    Dhaka, Washington yet to agree on 20% of US tariff conditions: BGMEA
  • Rakibul Alam Chowdhury, former vice-president of BGMEA. Photo: Courtesy
    35% US tariff: Bangladesh’s $10b garment trade teeters on edge

MOST VIEWED

  • Representational image
    In addition to 35% tariff, US demands 40% local value addition for 'Made in Bangladesh' goods
  • Screengrab blurred
    Killers bash in head of man with rock, stomp body with perverse pleasure
  • How tender rules and a lone bidder stall a $2.5b power plant
    How tender rules and a lone bidder stall a $2.5b power plant
  • Economist Abul Barkat; Photo: Courtesy
    Economist Abul Barkat arrested in graft case
  • Photo: UNB
    WHO's Saima Wazed Putul 'placed on indefinite leave' amid corruption allegations: Health Policy Watch
  • After India's visa restriction, China's Kunming is drawing Bangladeshi patients
    After India's visa restriction, China's Kunming is drawing Bangladeshi patients

Related News

  • Why legal literacy should be mandatory in every Bangladeshi school
  • EU to invest €1b in Bangladesh, plans to double
  • Israel may have breached EU agreement, bloc's foreign policy arm says
  • Trump calls for 50% tariff on EU, starting June 1
  • National Charter aims to safeguard citizens' rights: Ali Riaz

Features

The 2020 Harrier's Porsche Cayenne coupe-like rear roofline, integrated LED lighting with the Modellista special bodykit all around, and a swanky front grille scream OEM Plus for the sophisticated enthusiast looking for a bigger family car that isn’t boring. PHOTO: Ahbaar Mohammad

2020 Toyota Harrier Hybrid: The Japanese Macan

2h | Wheels
The showroom was launched through a lavish event held there, and in attendance were DHS Motors’ Managing Director Nafees Khundker, CEO Imran Zaman Khan, and GMs Arman Rashid and Farhan Samad. PHOTO: Akif Hamid

GAC inaugurate flagship showroom in Dhaka

3h | Wheels
After India's visa restriction, China's Kunming is drawing Bangladeshi patients

After India's visa restriction, China's Kunming is drawing Bangladeshi patients

1d | Panorama
Photo: Collected/BBC

What Hitler’s tariff policy misfire can teach the modern world

1d | The Big Picture

More Videos from TBS

Flashpoint Cumilla: where the July coup turned violent

Flashpoint Cumilla: where the July coup turned violent

24m | TBS Stories
US-Canada trade talks still uncertain

US-Canada trade talks still uncertain

2h | TBS World
Air India crash: What happened before the plane crashed?

Air India crash: What happened before the plane crashed?

4h | TBS World
Home Affairs Advisor calls on everyone to come forward and stop violence

Home Affairs Advisor calls on everyone to come forward and stop violence

5h | TBS Today
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net