Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán has called European Union action against his country’s new anti-LGBTQ law “legalised hooliganism.” The prime minister’s conservative Fidesz party introduced the controversial legislation, which bans positive representation of LGBTQ life to under-18s, last month. After several EU figures and heads of member states spoke out against the law, it was confirmed last week that the union was ‘launching infringement procedures’ against the country. Speaking on state radio last Friday (16 July), Orbán branded the EU’s approach “legalised hooliganism”, declaring: “The European Commission’s stance is shameful.” He added he would not let LGBTQ activists “march up and down” in schools promoting so-called “sexual propaganda.” In response to the new legislation – which is an amendment to existing law on pedophilia – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement: “Europe will never allow parts of our society to be stigmatised: be it because of whom they love, because of their age, their ethnicity, their political opinions, or their religious beliefs.”