The European Union's top court has ruled that Hungarian anti-LGBTQ laws violate EU rules and infringe its values of equality and minority rights.
The laws were brought in by Viktor Orbán's government in 2021 and banned so-called promotion of homosexuality or gender change to under-18s, arguing it violated child protection laws.
The European Court of Justice ruled that the Orbán reforms breached EU rules on a number of levels, significantly breaking the founding values of Article 2 of the EU Treaty - an unprecedented finding.
The ruling comes nine days after Hungarians voted to end Orbán's 16-year era of continuous rule.
The ECJ ruled that the Hungarian law interfered with rights such as a ban on discrimination based on sex and sexual orientation, respect for private and family life, and freedom of expression and information.
The law also stigmatised and marginalised people who were transgender or not heterosexual, associating them with individuals convicted of paedophilia, the court found.
The Hungarian law was considered contrary to the very identity of the Union as a common legal order in a society in which pluralism prevails, it ruled.
John Morijn, a professor of law and politics, indicated the ruling symbolizes that the rights of a group cannot be bargained away.
Orbán's Fidesz party previously pushed through the legislation thanks to a supermajority in parliament.
Last year, the party passed further amendments that banned public events involving the LGBTQ community, including Budapest's Pride march, which still took place despite the ban.
The European Commission indicated that the anti-LGBTQ law would be a topic of discussion with the new government once it's formed.
Newly elected PM Péter Magyar aims for a more inclusive approach, emphasizing no one should face stigma for their identity or love.
Experts state this ruling may have broader implications for EU member states concerning adherence to the rule of law and fundamental rights.
