MEPs to join Budapest Pride while Von der Leyen urges Hungarian government to back down
As Budapest prepares to host its annual pride, several Members of the European Parliament are travelling to the Hungarian capital in a show of solidarity. Meanwhile, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has publicly urged the Hungarian authorities to allow the event to go ahead.
In March, Hungary's parliament passed a law banning gatherings that could be perceived as promoting 'homosexuality and gender transition' to minors. Offenders face fines of up to €500. Although pride events are not explicitly mentioned in the law, the parliamentary debate confirmed that they fall under its remit.
Despite a police ban, Budapest mayor Gergely Karácsony, who is a vocal opponent of nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán, has pledged to allow the march to go ahead. Organisers expect a crowd of around 35,000 people.
Ahead of the event, Ursula von der Leyen took to X to insist that participation in the pride should be possible "without fear of any criminal or administrative sanctions against the organisers or participants."
A cross-party group of MEPs is set to join the Budapest Pride this weekend. Those confirmed to attend from Belgium include Elio Di Rupo (PS), Kathleen Van Brempt (Vooruit), Saskia Bricmont (Ecolo), Sara Matthieu (Groen) and Hilde Vautmans (Open VLD). The European Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, is travelling to Budapest on Friday to hold a joint press conference with mayor Karácsony.
In response, on Wednesday, Hungarian Justice minister Bence Tuzson sent a letter to thirty European embassies warning against participation. The letter claims that organising the march could result in a one-year prison sentence and that taking part could also constitute a criminal offence.
© ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP