Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ referendum fails to become binding as Viktor Orbán wins election
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s national referendum on LGBTQ+ rights failed to get enough votes to become binding. Citizens were asked to vote on four questions related to the community on 3 April, including whether or not sexual orientation should be taught to minors without parental consent.
However, its results are deemed non-binding because less than half of eligible voters cast valid ballots on all four questions – meaning either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ had to receive at least 50% of potential votes.
Despite this, more than 90% of voters supported the government’s campaign and Orbán’s team stated that he will still take the referendum as a victory, as he has done in the past.
The vote coincided with the country’s general election, which saw Orbán win his fourth consecutive landslide victory. “We have scored a victory so big, that it can be seen even from the Moon,” he said. “We have defended Hungary’s sovereignty and freedom.” His crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights in Hungary and frequent attacks on the European Union have been perceived as a way of generating higher voter turnout.
