Budapest Pride March Faces Controversy Amid Government Crackdown

The Budapest Pride march, slated for June 28, has been banned by Hungarian police, citing a new law that permits such actions ostensibly for child protection. This move comes despite Budapest's liberal mayor, Gergely Karacsony, asserting that the event requires no permits due to its municipal nature.

Passed in March by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz Party-controlled parliament, the law creates a legal foundation to prohibit LGBTQ marches and allows the use of facial recognition technology at such gatherings. Mayor Karacsony attempted to bypass this law, declaring the Pride march a city event exempt from permits, which the police dismissed, reportedly because officials were not formally notified of the event details.

As the city prepares for tens of thousands of attendees at the Budapest Pride Freedom Celebration, Orban's administration continues its campaign against LGBTQ rights, an effort to shore up support among conservative rural voters. The upcoming 2026 election could prove challenging for Orban, with a potent opposition emerging.

(With inputs from agencies.)