Muted reaction to Hungarian government figure's gay confession

Jul 6, 2007, 11:47 GMT

Budapest - Political reaction was muted in Hungary on Friday after Gabor Szetey, a high-ranking official in the Prime Minister's Office, admitted he was homosexual.

Szetey's announcement came on the same day as junior coalition member the Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ) announced that it would ask for same-sex unions to be legalized.

'I am Gabor Szetey. I am European, and Hungarian. I believe in God, love, freedom, and equality,' he said in a speech Thursday night as he opened Hungary's annual gay and lesbian film and cultural festival.

'I am the Human Resources Secretary of State of the Government of the Hungarian Republic. Economist, HR director. Partner, friend, sometimes rival. And gay,' he continued.

Szetey is the first senior government figure to admit openly to being homosexual, although liberal politician Klara Ungar has previously come out.

His admission provoked a muted response, with Tibor Navracsics, Parliamentary caucus leader of main right-of-centre opposition party Fidesz, saying his party considered Szetey's sexuality a private matter.

Navracsics also refused to be drawn on the SZDSZ's proposal, saying that his party was yet to discuss it. In the past, however, Fidesz leader Viktor Orban has indicated he would be opposed to such a move.

The SZDSZ said it wanted to change the law to allow same-sex couples to enjoy all the same rights as married couples.

'The future of a free, democratic, European state is only secure if it is capable of guaranteeing the right to an inviolable private life and individual happiness for every citizen,' the party said in a briefing.

Timea Szabone Meller, an MP for senior coalition member, the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP), said that her party supported the SZDSZ's plans.

While the main political parties kept their responses low key, extreme right-wing party Jobbik said it would organise a counter demonstration to the Gay Pride parade planned for Saturday.

Another right wing group, Movement for a Free Hungary, called the march an offence to public morality.