Hungary’s Viktor Orban government is planning a referendum
on the country’s controversial LGBTQ law in response to the European Union’s
criticism of the new measure that most of the continent views as homophobic.

Orban has outlined a five-question vote that will ask the
citizens if they support the “promotion” of content related to sexual
orientation to children, CNN reported. Prime Minister’s own stance on the vote
is a “no.”

He also referred to a referendum that was conducted five
year ago.

“Then, a referendum and the common will of the people
stopped Brussels. We have already succeeded once and together we will succeed
again,” he was quoted as saying by CNN.

In the said referendum, people in Hungary rejected the EU’s
refugee resettlement plan but not enough voters turned out to vote and it
failed to reach a voter turnout threshold, thus making the referendum not
legally binding.

EU has criticised the new laws in Hungary and many leaders
have conveyed their reservations about the law to Orban himself. According to a
CNN report,  Luxembourg’s Prime Minister
Xavier told  Orban that his grandfather
was Jewish and he is gay.” I can live freely. And then I read this law. I know
what happens when you turn people into a minority,” Xavier is reported to
have said.

The law in question bans all educational materials and
programs for children that are considered to promote homosexuality and gender
reassignment.

The law has drawn condemnation from the EU and leaders around the world as being homophobic. It has also prompted intense criticism from human rights groups and opposition
parties. On the day it passed, crowds gathered in Budapest outside parliament
to protest the bill.