Hungary's Constitutional Court Ruling: No More Snubs for Foreign Same- Sex Couples
Hungarian Constitutional Court seeks to expand legal benefits for same-sex partnerships
Social media 🚀 Share | Tweet | Whatsapp 📲 &Mydigit@+1234567890 | Email 📧 [email protected] | Print 🖨️ | Copy Link 🔗
In Hungary, the Constitutional Court is saying "no more snubs" towards same-sex couples, specifically those who've tied the knot abroad. They must be recognized as registered partnerships in Hungary, according to the court's recent ruling. Parliament has until October 31 of this year to pass the regulation into law. The lawsuit was filed by a Hungarian-German same-sex couple who exchanged vows in Germany.
Under Hungarian law, same-sex unions are limited to registered partnerships, while wedding bells are off-limits. A government decree in 2016 stated that same-sex unions legalized abroad should be recognized as registered partnerships in Hungary; however, this has yet to materialize due to a lack of legislation from the parliament. The court ruled this oversight unconstitutional. Same-sex partnerships are an essential component of human dignity and the freedom to make personal choices.
The ruling party, Fidesz, helmed by right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, is in power since 2010. Earlier this year, the parliament, dominated by Fidesz, established the groundwork for banning the annual Pride parades through constitutional amendments and law changes, citing child protection as their reason. These Pride parades advocate for the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ individuals.
The upcoming Pride event in Budapest is scheduled for June 28. It remains uncertain whether and where the event can take place. Dialogue between the police, government, and liberal Budapest city administration is ongoing. Recently, Justice Minister Bence Tuzson proposed the Budapest horse racing track as the venue for the event, deciding to restrict children's access. "The people who demonstrate for freedom and love at Pride are people, not horses," retorted Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony, in response.
[Source: ntv.de, DPA]
Enrichment Data:
While Hungary's Constitution restricts marriage to heterosexual couples, a recent District Court decision in February 2025 ordered the registration of two same-sex couples who married abroad. However, this decision doesn't necessarily reflect a wider acceptance of foreign same-sex marriages by the Hungarian government or the Constitutional Court. The political climate in Hungary has seen increased efforts to restrict LGBT rights, including a ban on Pride festivals. Potential implications include broader recognition of foreign marriages in the future, but a broader legal change would depend on further actions by the government or higher courts.
The Constitutional Court's ruling in Hungary mandates the recognition of foreign same-sex marriages as registered partnerships, challenging the existing policy-and-legislation that limits marriage rights to heterosexual couples. In the realm of politics, this ruling serves as a stepping stone towards advocating for vocational training and general-news discussions on the broader acceptance of same-sex unions, including vocational training programs for LGBTQ individuals and the fair representation of their rights in the media.
