Tensions in Budapest amid repression-marred Pride

Hungary's capital is preparing for a day of high political and social tension this Saturday. Despite the official ban, LGBTI+ activists and dozens of European political representatives plan to participate in an alternative version of the Pride parade, openly defying the new legislation of Viktor Orbán's government . The event, which used to be a colorful and peaceful celebration, has become a symbolic battleground this year over civil rights, freedom of expression, and democratic backsliding in Hungary.

The controversy began over a year ago, when the Orbán government intensified its crusade against LGBT+ rights. In March 2025, Parliament passed a law prohibiting the organization and attendance of any public event that "promotes LGBT+ content to minors." This wording was ambiguous enough to ban Pride parades, school talks, and even children's books with diverse representation. The law was defended by the government as a "child protection" mechanism but has been widely denounced by human rights organizations as a tool of censorship and systematic discrimination.

The situation worsened weeks later, when the Fidesz parliamentary majority pushed through a constitutional reform that strengthened this law and explicitly restricted the right to assembly and demonstration in order to "defend the traditional values ​​of the Hungarian family." This reform had immediate consequences: the Budapest police denied authorization for the Pride parade , scheduled for June 28, citing legal reasons. At the same time, a march organized by the ultranationalist group HVIM, known for its homophobic and anti-establishment rhetoric, was authorized for the same day and route.

The paradox has not gone unnoticed internationally. In recent days, at least 30 embassies, including those of Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, have signed a joint statement supporting the Pride celebrations and urging the Hungarian government to guarantee the safety and rights of protesters. The statement laments the "growing criminalization of LGBT+ identities" and recalls that freedom of expression and assembly are essential pillars of the EU. The European Commission, through its President Ursula von der Leyen, has also expressed "grave concern" about Orbán's authoritarian turn in this regard.

At the same time, more than 70 MEPs and national politicians have announced their intention to travel to Budapest this Saturday in a show of solidarity. Among them are the Vice President of the Spanish Government and Minister of Culture, Yolanda Díaz and Ernest Urtasun; the Swedish Green MEP Alice Bah Kuhnke; and the former Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. All have warned that what is "at stake" is not only the rights of the LGBTI+ community, but also "respect for fundamental freedoms" within the EU itself.

The Hungarian government, however, has stood firm. In a recent statement, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán warned that "any attempt to organize prohibited events will be prosecuted according to the law." The law provides for fines of up to 500 euros for attending unauthorized LGBTI+ events and allows law enforcement to use facial recognition technology to identify participants. The Prosecutor's Office has already opened preliminary investigations against several activists for "inciting illegality," and there is speculation that arrests may be made if the march goes ahead.

Despite this, the mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, has publicly defied the government's order and announced that Pride will still take place, albeit in an alternative format and sponsored by the City Council. "The city of Budapest will not allow hatred to supplant dignity," he has repeatedly stated. In a symbolic gesture, several municipal buildings have been flying the rainbow flag for weeks, in contrast to the official narrative that insists that "gender ideology" is a threat to the nation.

In this context, tomorrow's events could have multiple interpretations. For Hungarian LGBTI+ communities, it will be an act of resistance in the face of an increasingly hostile climate. For Orbán, it represents an opportunity to reaffirm his position as the standard-bearer of the "sovereignty conservatism" that has yielded so much success at the polls. And for the European Union, it will be a litmus test of how far it is willing to defend its founding values ​​against one of its most rebellious member states.

The possibility of clashes between Pride marchers and extremist groups, police action under the new law, and the presence of international figures make Budapest the epicenter of a political standoff that transcends Hungary's borders. What happens tomorrow could mark a turning point not only for LGBTI+ rights in Europe, but also for the balance between national sovereignty and common principles within the EU.