Fri May 23 05:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text and a rewrite as a news article:

**Summary:**

The article, written from an Indian perspective and published in *The Hindu*, examines the current political climate in Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. It highlights Hungary’s shift toward illiberal democracy, marked by anti-LGBTQIA+ laws, restrictions on public demonstrations, and close ties with controversial figures like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The author reflects on Hungary’s history of oppression and struggles for national identity, contrasting it with the current government’s aggressive nationalism that targets marginalized groups. The piece also touches on the fears of the LGBTQIA+ community in Hungary and their concerns about the future of their rights.

**News Article:**

**Hungary’s Illiberal Turn: An Indian Perspective on Orbán’s Budapest**

**Budapest, Hungary – May 23, 2025** – A recent visit to Budapest reveals a concerning shift in Hungary’s political landscape, as the nation embraces an illiberal democracy under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The country’s increasingly nationalistic policies, including restrictions on LGBTQIA+ rights and crackdowns on public demonstrations, are raising alarms both within Hungary and internationally.

“The new state we are constructing in Hungary is an illiberal state, a non-liberal state,” Orbán has proudly declared. This statement reflects a stark departure from the liberal values traditionally associated with Western Europe.

The author, traveling in Budapest, observed firsthand the growing restrictions, including street closures during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is considered by the ICC to be a “war criminal”. The visit coincided with Hungary’s exit from the International Criminal Court. The author notes the irony of Hungary’s welcoming a controversial figure while simultaneously restricting the rights of its own citizens.

One of the most pressing concerns is the government’s treatment of the LGBTQIA+ community. Laws passed in recent years have equated homosexuality with paedophilia and banned public displays of queer identity. These policies have led to a climate of fear and discrimination, with many queer Hungarians considering leaving the country. “We hear queer Hungarians are moving abroad, leaving behind a more conservative population,” said Jeroen Maassen van den Brink, a resident of Budapest.

The article reflects on Hungary’s historical struggles for national identity, including its fight against the Habsburg Empire and its experience under Communist rule. The author draws parallels to other nationalistic movements that, in their pursuit of freedom, have oppressed minority groups.

Critics accuse Orbán’s Fidesz party of fostering an aggressive nationalism that targets Roma gypsies, tramples on the rights of queer people, and welcomes controversial international figures.

The situation in Hungary raises concerns about the future of liberal values in Central Europe and the potential erosion of fundamental rights within the European Union. As Hungary approaches the 2026 elections, the LGBTQIA+ community and human rights advocates fear a further entrenchment of anti-LGBTQIA+ policies and a continued slide toward authoritarianism.

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