Budapest mayor threatened with imprisonment as he defies police to host Pride parade
Lauren Boland
Lauren Boland reports from Budapest
THE MAYOR OF Budapest is defying the city's police and the Hungarian government to host a Pride parade this weekend in the face of mounting efforts to push Hungary's LGBTQ+ community to the sidelines of society.
Gergely Karácsony, the city's left-wing mayor, has said he has been threatened with imprisonment for his organising of Pride – but he said the threat is an 'honour' for him as he fights to protect LGBTQ+ rights in a hostile political environment.
He called for Hungary to establish a new constitution that protects human dignity and the human rights of vulnerable minority groups.
It comes as EU Rule of Law and Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath confirms the EU has written to Hungarian authorities regarding its plans for extensive use of facial recognition as Hungary tries to quash the right to protest.
The Hungarian government introduced strict new legislation this year curbing freedom of assembly, which, layered on top of previous laws that penalise visibility of LGBTQ+ related content, enabled its targeting of Pride parades.
Budapest's police force ordered the Pride parade planned for this Saturday not to go ahead.
In response, Karácsony, as the city's mayor, said he will host it as a municipal event, which he argued would fall outside the scope of the restrictions – but authorities are still insisting the event is banned.
'There has been months of debate over the legality of the event, but let's face it = that's getting boring, and it is unnecessary. We cannot ban freedom,' said Karácsony, speaking in Hungarian at a conference this morning with an English translator.
'The protection of human rights and respect for dignity are the foundations on which every just society is built. The law should protect that dignity… but dignity transcends the law. The protection of human dignity is a moral imperative,' the mayor said.
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A Pride parade in Budapest in 2021
Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Hungary has some of the most repressive laws in Europe at the moment with regard to the LGBTQ+ community.
In 2021, it passed a bill that banned communicating with children and teenagers about sexual orientations and gender identities, both in media like movies or books and in educational settings. The law has had far-reaching consequences and has been condemned by civil society in Hungary and internationally.
A recent legal option from the EU Court of Justice said that Hungary is infringing on the treaty that sets out the EU's fundamental principles of human dignity and equality, and that it has significantly deviated from the model of a constitutional democracy.
'We cannot go on like this,' the mayor of Budapest said this morning.
'There are now thousands of signs that we cannot go on like this and that Hungary is on the verge of change,' he said.
'Liberal democracy was our answer for how to form society in which human dignity including right to self-determination is upheld
Democracy is being challenged by powerful political actors worldwide.
'The ongoing debate and struggle over this issue will have a decisive issue on western civilisation and humanity as a whole.'
Karácsony said the country 'needs a new constitution' and that the current constitution 'protects the powerful instead of protecting people from the powerful'.
'We are standing up for our principles, and our principles must be more important than power,' he said.
'We must restore equality of life and the rule of law and create a constitution with the right to sustainability and to housing but also full equality of rights to same-sex couples and minorities in Hungary.'
The mayor was speaking at the International Human Rights Conference in the Central European University in Budapest.
Ireland's former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is also due to speak at the conference later today.
Related Reads
Varadkar to speak at Budapest LGBTQ+ event ahead of city's 'banned' Pride march
Hungary's infamous ban on LGBTQ+ content deemed to be violation of EU law
Meanwhile, European Rule of Law and Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath told
The Journal
in Brussels yesterday about the EU's initiation of infringement proceedings against Hungary over the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
The EU Commission is currently awaiting a formal judgement by the European Court of Justice on the Hungary case.
McGrath said that the Court of Justice has sided with the Commission in every instance of alleged EU law infringement in Hungary to date.
'On this new law, which provides for the ban of certain gatherings or the potential to ban certain gatherings, we have written to the Hungarian authorities in relation to the use of facial recognition and data privacy issues that arise,' McGrath said.
'We await the response from them, and we will then evaluate that response and decide what action is open to the commission to take,' he said.
Asked about the length of the process, given that European citizens' rights are at risk, McGrath said due process must be followed to ensure that the Commission has the legal right to intervene.
'We have to ensure that there is a solid, legal basis to any action that we take. The Commission has a 100% success rate with the actions it's taken with Hungary – it's important that we continue with that success before the courts,' he said.
'That legal analysis is something I have to respect. That process is still ongoing.'
Additional reporting by Muiris O'Cearbhaill in Brussels
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Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Letters to the Editor, June 28th: On lack of action in Brussels, doing the right thing and choice language
Sir, – Your newspaper today (June 27th) provides a stark juxtaposition as to the situation in Gaza, and the hypocrisy of the EU. Your reporters in Brussels set out the lack of action by the EU to sanction Israel for its failure to allow aid into Gaza (' Government briefs 'like-minded' EU states on Occupied Territories Bill '). We see where states who are 'sympathetic' to Israel effectively veto anything more than carefully crafted words, as being the strongest action possible. The hope being that these words will bring the Israeli government to its senses and allow aid, at appropriate levels, to be let into the enclave, and maybe a ceasefire. And as if to show the Israeli government holding two fingers to the EU, your Reuters report sets out how Israel has stopped any aid being allowed into the north of Gaza ('Israel halts aid to northern Gaza as clans deny Hamas is stealing it'). Those strong words from Brussels really hit the mark! 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The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘The journey is not complete' – President Michael D Higgins wishers revellers happy Pride 2025 & marks key milestone
MICHAEL D Higgins has wished revellers a happy Pride 2025 — his last LGBT+ event as president. The Dublin Pride Parade and March 2025 will assemble on O'Connell Street today — celebrating a decade since the 2 President Michael D. Higgins sent well wishes for all celebrating Pride today Credit: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images President 'This annual celebration is a vital affirmation of the rights, the dignity and the joy of our " It is a time, too, to remember with gratitude the courage of those who paved the way for progress when marching was not safe, who gave voice to truths that were long silenced, and who set the foundations for the inclusive Ireland that we continue to strive towards today. 'In recent years, great strides have been made in advancing the rights and recognition of LGBT+ people in Ireland. READ MORE IN NEWS "In celebrating Pride this year, we are also marking the 10th anniversary of the Marriage Equality referendum. 'A moment that spoke of the kind of Ireland we aspire to be — inclusive, generous and unafraid to affirm the equal worth of all of our citizens." The President said that we must also acknowledge that "the journey is not complete". He continued: "A truly inclusive society is one where all can live authentically and creatively, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, where all can participate fully, and where all voices are not only heard but valued, in all their richness and diversity. most read in the irish sun "Pride remains a vital expression of that vision in challenging us to deepen our commitment to human rights, to solidarity, and to the kind of republic that cherishes all of its people equally. "In a time when hard-won rights are being questioned in many parts of the world, such vigilance and unity are more vital than ever. Mr Higgins reflected on his terms as President of Ireland. He added: 'I have been continually inspired by the creativity, resilience and generosity of spirit shown by Ireland's LGBT+ community. 'In so many aspects of Irish life, your rich and varied contributions have helped to enrich our society immeasurably — widening the circle of belonging for us all. "May I wish all those marking "May this Pride be a time of joy, of solidarity, and of renewed hope as we work to craft a future together that is peaceful, just and inclusive – a future defined by equality and participation of all citizens across the world in all their wonderful diversity." 2 President Higgins said the event is a vital affirmation of the rights of our LGBT+ communities Credit: Alamy
The Journal
4 hours ago
- The Journal
Ballymena to host first ever Pride Parade weeks after headline grabbing riots
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