Here's why the Fundamental Law amendment is needed

Budapest Times

15-04-2025

Hungary's National Assembly is preparing to pass the 15th amendment to the Fundamental Law, marking another major step in reinforcing national identity, legal clarity, and state sovereignty.
The amendment covers a wide spectrum of issues, including child protection, gender identity, citizenship, national emergency powers, and community self-defense, and aims to future-proof Hungary's constitutional framework.
At the heart of the amendment is the explicit prioritization of children's rights. A newly added provision states that 'every child has the right to the protection and care necessary for their proper physical, intellectual, and moral development,' and that this right supersedes all other fundamental rights, except the right to life.
Government lawmakers view this change as a constitutional safeguard against ideological influences that they argue threaten the well-being of children, particularly in the context of events like Pride parades.
The amendment also defines legal sex as immutable, stating that a person is either male or female and that this status cannot be legally altered. According to governing party representatives, this is not an attack on individual self-expression, but a clarification that legal norms are based on biological reality—an approach intended to ensure coherence in state administration and social organization.
Another significant element concerns national sovereignty. The government argues that dual nationals receiving foreign support could pose a risk to Hungary's independence. As such, the amendment would allow for the suspension of Hungarian citizenship under specific legal conditions to be determined by a cardinal law. This change is part of a broader effort to counter what officials describe as foreign-funded political pressure networks that undermine Hungarian democracy and sovereignty.
Emergency powers are also addressed. While the existing system allowing the government to declare a state of emergency remains intact, the amendment limits executive power by requiring a two-thirds parliamentary mandate for suspending laws or deviating from them. This ensures that even in extraordinary situations, checks and balances remain in place—except when the parliament explicitly permits broader powers for up to six months.
Additionally, the amendment lays the constitutional groundwork for local self-defense. Municipalities would gain the right to protect their communities' identity by regulating real estate transactions and imposing local residency or tax conditions. This provision is intended to shield localities from demographic or economic pressures that might erode community cohesion.
The Fundamental Law will also now guarantee the right to cash payments, alongside the existing right to property and inheritance, and explicitly ban drugs in all forms—from production to promotion.
These changes are necessary to preserve national sovereignty, protect vulnerable communities, and ensure legal stability amid increasing foreign influence and ideological pressure. This amendment is a reaffirmation that Hungary belongs to Hungarians—legally, culturally, and constitutionally.