The Hungarian parliament passed the 15th amendment to the country's constitution on April 15, enshrining a string of hardline conservative provisions seen as further alienating Hungary from Western liberal norms. 

The changes adopted on April 14 by votes of the ruling nationalist Fidesz and radical right-wing Our Homeland include a declaration that a person's gender is determined solely by biological sex at birth, a move critics say targets transgender people and LGBTQ+ rights. The amendment states that the state must protect the "natural order" and "prevent efforts suggesting the possibility of changing one's birth sex".

The new constitutional language also elevates children's right to protection for their physical, intellectual and moral development above all other fundamental rights, except the right to life.

By using this clause, the government has created the legal basis for banning the Pride March, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Politicians and supporters of liberal Momentum formed a blockade around parliament, but Fidesz lawmakers showed up just in time for the vote, according to local media. Later in the day, a spontaneous protest erupted and a few hundred protestors went on to block the Chain Bridge, a main bridge in the capital.  

Fidesz lawmakers passed the amendment to the 2018 assembly law in an expedited procedure last month, which will outlaw gatherings deemed to violate child protection regulations, specifically citing the "promotion or display of homosexuality."

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has escalated his attacks on civil society organisations, independent media and LGBTQ+ groups in the wake of Donald Trump’s US election victory, as he seeks to galvanise his conservative base ahead of a potentially tight contest in 2026 against the newcomer Tisza Party, leading in the polls.

In his state of the nation address in late February, Orban warned Pride organisers against holding this year’s march and pledged renewed action against what he described as the "Soros network", a label he has long used to target foreign-funded NGOs and critical media outlets.

The sharpening rhetoric against critics, as highlighted by Orban's address on the March 15 national holiday, suggests a broader electoral strategy for the conservatives, facing a meltdown of their voter base due to corruption and the cost-of-living crisis.

The amendment to the Fundamental Law also asserts the right to use cash for payments, a key policy initiative of the far right, arguing that the preservation of physical money is vital for the functioning of the economy and to prevent digital financial exclusion.

The revised text also allows for the suspension of Hungarian citizenship, under certain legal conditions, for dual nationals, excluding those from EU and EEA countries. Group-based suspensions, however, are explicitly prohibited.

The Orban government has also declared an all-out war against drugs, a measure supported by the vast majority of Hungarians. The amendment bans the production, use, distribution and promotion of narcotics, framing the move as a defence of public order and a healthy lifestyle.

In recent weeks, police have conducted a series of raids against dealers and drug labs, but experts note that this is more of a vote-winning strategy rather than a genuine solution to the problem.

The changes also tighten rules on emergency powers: while the government currently has broad leeway to suspend laws during special legal orders, the amendment now restricts that power to wartime and states of emergency, unless Parliament grants temporary two-thirds authorisation during other crises.

Another clause adds a provision that the right to freely choose one's place of residence must not infringe on the identity of local communities, a move observers say could be used to justify measures aimed at limiting internal migration or demographic shifts in smaller municipalities.

The age limit for prosecutors' service was also clarified: all but the Chief Prosecutor will be required to retire at 70.

While most elements of the amendment take effect the day after promulgation, changes related to emergency powers and the prosecution service will enter into force from January 1, 2026.

The 15th amendment to the Fundamental Law, in effect since 2012, is expected to draw fresh scrutiny from Brussels and international rights groups, which have long criticised Orban’s government for eroding democratic standards and consolidating power through constitutional engineering.