Co-founder Hungary’s Ruling Party Resigns Over Gay Sex Scandal
By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent reporting from Budapest
(Worthy News) – European legislator József Szájer, who co-authored Hungary’s new constitution banning gay marriage, has resigned after reportedly attending a gay sex party in Brussels.
Szájer, a prominent member of the European Parliament with Hungary’s ruling conservative Fidesz party, gave up his seat over the weekend. And on Wednesday, he resigned as a member of Fidesz in a one-sentence letter to its director.
The 59-year old married politician confirmed his attendance at what he called a “private party” in an apartment near a gay bar.
Belgian officials said police disrupted Friday’s sex party attended by some 25 persons, mainly men, above a café. One attendee, apparently Szájer, fled the scene through a downspout but was soon apprehended, police said.
Several other diplomats were also present at the party. Szájer said police at the scene issued him a verbal warning for violating coronavirus lockdown rules and took him home. He denied allegations that he used drugs at the party, saying he offered to be tested but that police declined his offer.
ECSTASY PILLS
Police reported finding ecstasy pills in Szájer’s possession, which he claimed were not his. Szájer said he told police that he did not know how the drugs had ended up in his backpack. The legislator expressed regret for his violation of Belgium’s strict coronavirus lockdown rules.
Szájer added that he “had faced the consequences of the incident by resigning” and that he was prepared to face any penalties for his actions.
It came as a setback for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The legislator was a co-founder of Orbán’s Fidesz party in the late 1980s when Hungary was a Communist-ruled nation and occupied by Russian troops.
In comments to pro-government newspaper Magyar Nemzet, Orbán turned his back to his long-time Protégé, saying Szajer’s actions were “not compatible with the values of our political community.”
“We will not forget or deny his 30 years of work, but his actions are not acceptable and indefensible,” Orbán said. “After what happened, he made the only correct decision by apologizing and resigning from the European Parliament and leaving Fidesz,” he added.
PARLIAMENT MEMBER
Before arriving in Brussels, Szájer was a member of Hungary’s parliament between 1990 and 2004 and the Fidesz vice-president for several years. He later served as leader of the Fidesz’ European Parliament delegation since 2004 and “first deputy chairman” of the conservative European People’s Party.
Szájer helped transform Fidesz from a liberal grouping into a conservative party known for its anti-gay lifestyle rhetoric. The party claims to support family values and Christian traditions. It also rushed through Parliament legislation limiting the rights of transgender people.
Szájer co-authored Hungary’s new constitution in which marriage is described as a union “between man and woman.” And the Fidesz-led government recently proposed an amendment that would allow only people in such a union to adopt children.
However, after the latest sex revelations, opposition parties were quick to blast the “moral bankruptcy” of Fidesz. But in a statement, Szájer pleaded for understanding. “I have drawn the personal and political consequences [of my action] in the form of the resignation I tendered on Sunday,” he said.
“I apologize to my family, colleagues, and supporters. And I am asking them to assess my misstep in light of my 30 years of dedicated work [as a politician],” he added in his statement.
MORE SCANDALS
This wasn’t the first sex scandal to rock the ruling Fidesz party. Other members had to step down after such scandals.
Ahead of Hungary’s 2019 municipal elections, video footage emerged of a Fidesz mayor engaging in an orgy on a yacht in the Adriatic attended by prostitutes. And this year Hungary’s former ambassador to Peru was sentenced for possession of child pornography.
Without Szájer, Orbán loses a crucial ally in the European Parliament at a sensitive time.
He and his Polish counterpart vetoed the 2.1 trillion dollar EU budget and coronavirus rescue fund because payments are linked to respect for the rule of law.
More talks on that issue are due this month.
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