The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has launched a major trial against Hungary over its controversial Anti-Pedophile Act, a 2021 law aimed at shielding children from what the government calls “gay and transsexual propaganda.”
The legislation has sparked outrage among liberal critics, who argue it restricts sex education, stigmatizes LGBTQ individuals by linking them to pedophilia, hinders gay adoption, and imposes strict limits on media and advertising content.
This legal battle has drawn participation from 16 EU member states alongside the European Commission, marking an unusually high level of involvement for cases concerning the “rule of law.” During the opening statements, a lawyer for the European Commission described the law as “a direct and serious attack on the rule of law and European society at large.”
Should Hungary be found in violation, it could face hefty fines and even the suspension of its voting rights within the EU. The ECJ’s Attorney General is expected to deliver an opinion on the case in the next three to four months.
