Dozens of MEPs to attend Budapest Pride in defiance of Viktor Orban

Source: The Guardian

Dozens of MEPs to attend Budapest Pride in defiance of Viktor Orbán

As many as 70 said to be planning to show solidarity at LGBTQ+ march after Hungary’s PM tried to ban it

Jennifer Rankin in Brussels
Wed 18 Jun 2025 18.12 BST
Last modified on Wed 18 Jun 2025 20.01 BST

Dozens of MEPs are expected to attend the Pride march in Budapest this month, in defiance of the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, who has tried to ban the event.

In a debate in the European parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs from liberal, left and green groups pledged to be in Budapest on 28 June for the parade to show solidarity with gay Hungarians.

The pledges came after the city’s mayor said the event would go ahead, circumventing a law that allows police to ban LGBTQ+ marches. Gergely Karácsony said on Monday that the march would be a municipal event – and a celebration of freedom – so “no permits from authorities are needed”.

“In this city, there are no first- or second-class citizens … neither freedom, nor love can be banned, and the Budapest Pride cannot be banned either,” Karácsony said.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/18/meps-attend-budapest-pride-viktor-orban-hungary-lgbtq