Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán will not be present tonight at the European Championship match between Germany and Hungary in Munich. German media write that Orbán canceled his visit last night. Speaking to Hungarian media, government spokespersons say they will not “enter into private activities of the prime minister”.
Prior to the group match in Munich, a discussion broke out about lighting the football stadium in the colors of the rainbow, a symbol of the LGBTI community. With this, the city council wants to protest against the Hungarian law change that makes it illegal to ‘promote’ homosexuality among young people up to the age of 18.
The European football association UEFA does not allow the action, because the lighting is a political statement. This led to surprise among German politicians and LGBTI organizations, who state that it concerns human rights. Several buildings in Munich will therefore still be lit with rainbow colors tonight, just like football stadiums in other cities.
‘Accept the ban’
In an interview with the German news agency DPA, Orbán calls on German politicians to accept the UEFA ban. “It is not a decision of the state to light a stadium.” In addition, he ensures that LGBT people are protected in Hungary and that rainbow colors are also part of the street scene in the capital Budapest.
The Hungarian Prime Minister is known as a great football fan. He did attend the two other European Championship group matches, in which his country lost to Portugal and drew against France.
