The leader of Hungary’s far-right Jobbik party, Péter Jakab, has called on the government to consider chemical castration of pedophiles after claiming its child protection law does not go far enough.
“When it comes to combating pedophiles, the means of chemical castration will have to be considered for introduction,” said Jakab.
The Hungarian parliament approved a child protection law last summer that came under heavy criticism from the European mainstream, with Hungary claiming the legislation was the primary reason why the European Union launched infringement procedures against the country.
In an interview with ATV, Jakab said his party had previously submitted several bills which the ruling conservative Fidesz later claimed were its own and in the future it would even vote with the ruling parties based on merit.
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“We also voted in favor of the pedophile law because we were the ones who demanded that pedophiles be treated much harder,” Jakab said. “In the future, I will continue on this line.”
Chemical castration is already offered in a number of European countries, such as Germany, but as a treatment option and not as a punishment. It is also voluntary for offenders. The treatment usually involves injections or pills designed to reduce testosterone, which reduces libido and sexual urges.
Jobbik, who ran together with five other mostly left-wing parties at the April 3 general election, saw its number of seats reduced to nine from 26 during the previous cycle in the country’s 199-seat legislature. Jobbik has been described as a far-right party, but has reportedly been trying to improve temper its message in recent years and drop its anti-Semitic rhetoric. However, the party’s alliance with mostly left-wing parties, many which promote issues such as LGBT sexual education in classrooms, mass immigration, and a centralized EU, also raises questions what the party’s real stance is on a variety of key issues.
