When people think of Hungary and the LGTQI+ community, they often think of homophobia and oppression. However, this could change in the future. Because: Péter Márki-Zay, the new leader of the opposition in the country, is challenging Viktor Orbán. Not only does he want to take office, but he also wants to make Hungary more queer-friendly again.
The decision on whether Orbán will remain in office or perhaps actually be replaced by Péter Márki-Zay will be made in April of next year. That is when the parliamentary elections will be held.
How opposite is Péter Márki-Zay?
Granted: The "fringe" data surrounding Péter Márki-Zay would suggest less that this is a friend of the community. He talks about himself as a "traditional conservative". At the same time, however, he also declares that he is against hate and is committed to a country in which love, above all, is allowed to reign.
His goal, he said, was that every person - including politicians - could profess homosexuality. One of his main criteria, he said, was the fact that in Hungary campaigns against the community were always being launched. This form of hatred should not exist under his leadership. Among other things, because he has learned to accept that people and cultures differ from each other. Statements like these show once again that it is not possible to put Péter Márki-Zay in a (conservative) box.
Péter Márki-Zay's curriculum vitae: a colorful mixture of many different impressions
Péter Márki-Zay has already worked in the USA and France, among other places, and thus knows his way around liberal states very well. And it is precisely this, according to his own statement, that has caused it to be quite natural for him that people are not the same, but different.
Due to the fact that he has come into contact with so many, different cultures in the course of his life, he has also learned to accept these differences. An ability that could benefit him as Viktor Orbán's successor...?! Should he manage to build on the successes of his role model, Barack Obama, nothing should stand in the way of a continuing career in politics.
His entry into the opposition is not a jump into the deep end. Among other things, Péter Márki-Zay has already been mayor of a town in southern Hungary. The people seemed to be satisfied with his performance. Because: after winning the first time, he won again in the following election.
Viktor Orbán has long been under criticism
It may also take an opponent, like Péter Márki-Zay, who doesn't mince words and says what many people think about Orbán's homophobic policies. The Hungarian prime minister has long been criticized not only within the community, but also by the EU. Recently, there have been increased threats of sanctions here if the situation for queers in the country does not improve. So far, Orbán has remained largely unimpressed and dismissed all blame.
Under the guise of the goal to protect the classical family, life is still difficult for many people from the community in Hungary. Many of them live out their love only in secret.
The election of Péter Márki-Zay could therefore mark a turning point in homophobic Hungarian politics. However, there is still some time before the parliamentary elections in the spring. It remains to be seen how the election campaign will turn out and how both parties will try to attract as many supporters as possible to their side. It is not only the LGBTQI+ community that will be eager to see how the situation develops.
Such is the sexual openness in big cities.
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