Hungary's President, Katalin Novak, has rejected a controversial bill that would enable citizens to anonymously report same-sex families to authorities. The draft law, which was approved by parliament earlier this month, would have allowed people to report those who contested the "constitutionally recognized role of marriage and the family" and those who denied children's rights "to an identity appropriate to their sex at birth."
In a rare move, Novak sent the bill back to parliament for reconsideration, stating that it weakened rather than strengthened constitutional protections. In a letter dated Friday, Novak said that the legislation contained irrelevant passages that were not in line with the original purpose of facilitating the reporting of corruption in accordance with European Union law.
While lawmakers can still override Novak's veto, her letter contains unusually sharp criticism from a member of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government. Orban's government has been criticized for curbing the rights of Hungary's LGBTQ+ community and effectively barring adoption for same-sex couples, leading to the country being cut off from European Union funding.
Novak's letter stated that the bill "cites the protection of constitutional values to introduce vaguely-worded directives whose practical applicability and legal consequences are doubtful." Her rejection of the bill serves as a glimmer of hope for Hungary's LGBTQ+ community, which has faced increasing discrimination and marginalization in recent years.