Hungary’s government will scrap legislation that effectively barred gay and lesbian couples from adopting, Prime Minister Peter Magyar has said, reversing a measure introduced under Viktor Orban’s former regime.
Mr Magyar said the current system would be changed so that adoption decisions were made by child welfare professionals rather than a minister or politician.
“We can state unequivocally that we will change this system: it should not be the minister, a politician … who makes the decision in such cases, but rather professionals capable of determining the conditions under which a given young child can achieve … a life that allows them to become a happy and harmonious member of society,” he said.
Adoption by same-sex couples had been possible in Hungary until late 2020, when one partner could apply as a single person. Legislation passed by Orban’s Fidesz party required single applicants to obtain approval from the family affairs minister, amounting to an effective ban.
Mr Magyar ousted Mr Orban after 16 years in a landslide election win in April. Changing the adoption system would represent a significant step towards restoring LGBTQ rights in the European Union member state.
Mr Orban’s government had presented itself as a defender of Christian values against what it called Western liberalism. During its time in power, laws ended legal changes of gender in personal documents, restricted same-sex adoption and banned school materials regarded as promoting homosexuality or gender transition.
The European Court of Justice ruled in April that Hungary had violated European law through rules prohibiting or restricting access to LGBTQI content, saying they stigmatised and marginalised gay and transgender people.
Hungary does not allow same-sex marriage, although civil unions are recognised.
