LGBTQ+ supporters will defy a police ban on Budapest Pride this Saturday, calling out Hungary’s tightening grip on civil liberties under Viktor Orbán.
Tens of thousands are expected to march in Budapest on Saturday to defy a police ban on the annual Pride parade, which has become a symbol of resistance against Hungary’s right-wing government.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s administration has intensified its crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights, recently passing a law allowing police to ban Pride events under the guise of “child protection.” Critics argue it’s part of a broader erosion of democratic freedoms.
Despite the ban, march organisers say participants from over 30 countries, including 70 EU lawmakers and diplomats, will attend.
Mayor Gergely Karacsony attempted to reclassify the march as a municipal event to bypass the ban, but police rejected it, warning of “legal consequences.”
Justice Minister Bence Tuzson earlier warned organisers face jail time and attendees may be fined or surveilled using facial recognition technology.
“The law serves to intimidate the entire society,” 70 civil society groups said in a joint statement.
The event comes ahead of a 2026 election where Orbán faces growing opposition.