Anticipated High Attendance at Budapest Pride Despite
The annual Budapest Pride parade is scheduled to take place this year, in spite of a police ban and opposition from the government. Organizers anticipate that tens of thousands of individuals from various countries will attend.
Supporters of LGBTQ+ rights from around 30 nations are expected to join the Budapest Pride march on Saturday, defying a police prohibition established under new laws aimed at limiting minors’ exposure to non-heterosexual orientations.
This event has come to symbolize the resistance against the increasing repression of civil society in Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s nationalist regime. As elections approach next year, the government is facing mounting pressure from center-right opposition leader Peter Magyar’s Tisza party.
European Support
More than 30 embassies have voiced their backing for the march, which will include participation from European Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib and about 70 members of the European Parliament.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged Hungarian authorities to allow the parade to occur. In her statement, she highlighted that “our Union stands for equality and non-discrimination,” asserting that these fundamental values should be consistently upheld across all member states.
Nonetheless, participants in the march could face potential misdemeanor charges, and those organizing such events might incur a one-year prison sentence, as outlined in a letter from Justice Minister Bence Tuzson sent to various foreign embassies in Budapest.
The child-protection legislation facilitating this ban also grants law enforcement the authority to impose fines and employ facial recognition technology to identify attendees.
Strain on Civil Society in Hungary
In recent years, Orban’s administration has frequently come into conflict with the EU over its increasing restrictions on civil liberties and press freedoms under the guise of preserving “Christian” values.
Critics view the ban on the Pride march as part of a larger assault on democratic freedoms leading up to next year’s elections, during which Orban’s government is anticipated to face considerable challenges from Magyar’s party, currently leading in opinion polls.
While the Tisza party has not taken a clear position regarding LGBTQ+ rights issues, it has called on the government to ensure protection for those participating in the march.
“Peter Magyar has urged Hungarian authorities and law enforcement to protect citizens this Saturday and beyond, even if it means standing against arbitrary power,” stated its press office. Notably, Magyar himself does not intend to attend.
