The National Assembly of Hungary has approved the 15th amendment to the Constitution, which provides restrictions on dual citizenship holders and LGBTQ+ community members.
On April 14, Hungarian Parliament voted on the amendment with 140 votes in favour, 21 against, and no abstentions, with a total of 161 members voting, Schengen.News reports.
An amendment to the Hungarian constitution was proposed in March of this year and announced by the parliamentary group leader of the ruling party, Fidesz, Máté Kocsis.
A Hungarian citizen who also holds the citizenship of another state may be expelled from the territory of Hungary under conditions specified by law if his or her activities endanger the national sovereignty, public order, territorial integrity or security of Hungary.
He emphasised that the measure could be used against NGOs and journalists, which the Hungarian government believes are working for foreign interests.
The Hungarian politician previously hinted that the government is introducing tighter measures in an effort to protect its sovereignty.
Kocsis also stressed that in the Fundamental Law, the production, use, distribution, and promotion of drugs are also prohibited in the country.
Extended Grounds of Citizenship Revocations
The adoption of the proposal means that Hungarian authorities can revoke the citizenship of all persons who pose a threat to public order and public or national security.
Following the new changes, all those whose citizenship is suspended will be expelled from Hungary. For now, the new rules will not be applied to EU citizens.
Hungarian citizenship can also be revoked from those holding dual citizenship. It means that dual citizenship can be revoked from those holding a citizenship of a non-EU country, in addition to Hungarian citizenship.
In addition to the EU countries, excluded from the new rules will be nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“There Are Only 2 Genders: Male & Female”
The new law states that there are only two genders: male and female, giving the country’s authorities the right to ban public LGBTQ+ gatherings.
The government of Hungary argues that the amendment aims to prioritise the protection of children’s physical, mental, and moral development.
The sex of a person at birth is a biological condition that — according to the order of creation — can be male or female. The task of the state is to ensure the legal protection of this natural order and prevent attempts that provide for the possibility of changing sex at birth.
The same says that fixing sex ensures the “healthy development of society” and also the maintenance of the norms of society.