A Model Nation That Forgets Its Children – How Hungary Became the Idol of the Far Right While Roma Children Go Hungry and LGBTQ Youth Fall Silent

From the outside, Hungary appears to be the darling of Europe’s far right. For Germany’s AfD, the country under Viktor Orbán is seen as a model – a fortress against migration, a haven of conservative values, a state with a firm hand and clearly defined enemies. But while Björn Höcke and Alice Weidel indulge in songs of praise, the reality for many Hungarian children looks very different: they live in poverty, exclusion, and fear. Those who idealize Hungary must either look away – or lie.

Officially, child poverty in Hungary stands at around 24 percent. That is significantly above the EU average – but still doesn't make headlines. However, anyone taking a closer look will find a layered social disaster: nearly 90 percent of Roma children live below the poverty line. Entire villages in northeastern Hungary, such as in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, are marked by hunger, poor hygiene, broken heating systems, and school commutes that children walk in subzero temperatures – often without breakfast. There is no trace of integration. Despite anti-discrimination laws, “Roma classes” remain common practice. These children are systematically separated from the majority population – placed in schools with inferior equipment, less instruction, and bleak prospects. The compulsory school age was lowered in 2011 to 16, a move that disproportionately affects families with little access to education. Early childhood development remains a distant goal – especially in rural areas where kindergartens, doctors, and social workers are sorely lacking.

But poverty is not the only burden Hungarian children carry. LGBTQ youth growing up in Hungary live under a law that seeks to erase their existence. Since 2021, any “depiction of non-traditional lifestyles” to minors has been prohibited. Sexual education on homosexuality or transgender identity? Criminalized. Young adult books with queer characters? Censored. NGOs are sounding the alarm: more and more LGBTQ youth in Hungary are suffering from mental stress, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. This state-sponsored exclusion is packaged as “child protection” – but it is in fact deliberate stigmatization. The EU has launched infringement proceedings against Hungary. But inside the country, pressure is mounting: teachers stay silent for fear of reprisals, parents turn to exile media, children withdraw into themselves. For refugee children seeking protection in Hungary, the situation is hardly better. Those who enter without authorization are rejected, detained, or deported – including families with small children. In theory, there is a right to education, but in practice, language barriers, a lack of integration programs, and discrimination are the norm. Hungary’s child protection services are chronically underfunded, lacking both personnel and standards. International organizations repeatedly report abuse in children’s homes, arbitrary custody decisions, and politically motivated family surveillance. And yet, Hungary is glorified by the AfD as a beacon of hope. Orbán’s migration policy – from pushbacks to border fences – is celebrated. His LGBTQ ban is hailed as a “brave defense of the family.” And his clashes with the EU are seen as resistance to alleged Brussels overreach. Meanwhile, thousands of children go hungry, Roma are marginalized, and queer youth are stripped of their rights – all willfully ignored. Orbán presents a nation with clearly defined enemies. The AfD applauds. And the child vanishes from the frame.

Hungary is not a model state. It is a European hotspot of social neglect – a country that steals the future of its children in the name of ideology. Anyone who overlooks this, or consciously conceals it, is complicit. Especially in Germany, we should know where a country ends up when it declares the vulnerable to be the enemy and is cheered on by conservatives in doing so.

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