Latest news with #RafałTrzaskowski
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Nationalist Karol Nawrocki sworn in as Polish president
The nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki has been sworn in as the Polish president, using his inaugural address to criticise the EU as he vowed to represent 'sovereign' Poland in a sign of potential clashes to come with the country's pro-European government. In a combative speech in parliament aimed squarely at the prime minister, Donald Turk, and his allies, Nawrocki said on Wednesday that the voters in June's presidential election had 'sent a strong message … that things cannot continue to be governed in this way'. The 42-year-old attacked his rivals for the 'propaganda, lies … and contempt' to which he said he had been subjected during the polarising campaign. He said he opposed 'illegal migration … and joining the euro', and wanted a 'sovereign Poland that is in the European Union … but is and will remain Poland'. A devout Catholic, Nawrocki ended his speech with a cry: 'May God bless Poland, long live Poland.' Backed by the populist-right opposition Law and Justice party, which ruled Poland between 2015 and 2023, Nawrocki ran under a Trumpesque slogan of 'Poland first, Poles first.' He defied the polls to narrowly beat the Oxford-educated liberal Warsaw mayor, Rafał Trzaskowski, to replace the conservative incumbent, Andrzej Duda, who was stepping down after two terms. Nawrocki, who faced controversy during the campaign when it emerged he had taken part in an organised brawl between football hooligans in 2009, has little experience in frontline politics after serving as the head of the Polish Institute of National Remembrance, a state research institute. Backed by the populist-right opposition Law and Justice party, which ruled Poland between 2015 and 2023, Nawrocki ran a populist campaign under a Trumpesque slogan of 'Poland first, Poles first.' His manifesto – going far beyond presidential powers – contained 21 promises, including to lower taxes and energy costs, stop the EU's green policies, block irregular migration and ensure 'safe childhood without ideology', a phrase taken to mean opposition to same-sex adoption and gender education in schools. After an unexpected visit to Washington in the final weeks of the campaign, Nawrocki sought and secured Donald Trump's endorsement before the vote. A White House delegation took also part in the swearing-in ceremony. As it tries to stand up to an increasingly aggressive Russia, Poland will hope that his personal relationship with Trump will help in defence talks with the US administration. Marek Magierowski, Poland's former US ambassador, said in an analysis for the Atlantic Council that the links could 'help keep both countries aligned in the contest against Russia'. On Ukraine, Nawrocki has pledged to continue support for Kyiv, but opposes its Nato membership. Sign up to This is Europe The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment after newsletter promotion Domestically, the new presidency is expected to directly challenge Tusk's pro-European coalition government. While the role of the Polish president carries limited powers, it gives him some influence over foreign and defence policy, a high public profile, and the ability to veto new legislation. The veto can only be overturned with a majority of three-fifths in parliament, which the government does not have, potentially stymying its ability to pass promised reforms on contentious issues such as abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. Nawrocki is expected to make the most of his powers, seeking to stand up to increasingly unpopular Tusk. He is expected to put forward his first legislative proposals this week in an attempt to set the political agenda for the autumn. On Wednesday, Nawrocki drew some early battle lines. He challenged the government's plans to restore the rule of law after the previous administration's clashes with the EU, accusing Tusk's government of undermining the country's constitution and calling for its broader rewrite by 2030 – an ambition with a clear political implication. Any change to the constitution would require a two-thirds majority in parliament. The Law and Justice party hopes to use Nawrocki's success in the buildup to the 2027 parliamentary election in an attempt to return to power, potentially in a coalition with the libertarian far-right Konfederacja party. 'He spoke about a confrontation with the government, and, of course, we are ready for that,' Tusk told reporters after the speech. He said he hoped 'the rather defiant and confrontational tone won't lead to any practical consequences'. Still, he added that 'if needed, we will stand firm.' He also pointedly criticised Nawrocki's comments about the rule of law, putting them in the context of investigations into alleged irregularities under the previous Law and Justice government. 'Even if some people complain that the reckoning process is going slowly, I'm not surprised PiS [Law and Justice party] is desperate for President Nawrocki to somehow paralyse the work of the prosecutor's office. But let me just say: dream on!,' he said.
Euractiv
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Euractiv
Poles divided over election fraud claims
Some 40% of Poles say it is possible the recent presidential election may have been rigged, according to a new SW Research poll for Rzeczpospolita. The presidential runoff took place on 1 June. The winner was Karol Nawrocki, head of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) and supported by PiS (ECR), who received 50.89% of the vote. His rival, Rafał Trzaskowski of prime minister Donald Tusk's Civic Platform (PO, EPP), mayor of Warsaw, secured 49.11%. After the results were announced, concerns were raised about irregularities in certain polling stations. Observers pointed to cases where one of the candidates in the runoff received virtually no additional votes compared to the first round – or even fewer. These situations sparked suspicions about the accuracy of the reported results. This has led to a dispute between the ruling coalition, which is calling for a vote recount, and PiS, which maintains that there is no need for one. Within two weeks of the election results being announced, tens of thousands of electoral complaints were submitted. 'Only a thorough examination of all irregularities will provide assurance that they did not affect the (election) outcome,' Tusk said in Brussels last week. 'Do you think it is possible that this year's presidential election in Poland was rigged?,' participants were asked in the poll. A total of 40.1% of respondents answered yes. Meanwhile, 45.3% rejected the possibility of election fraud, and 14.6% were undecided. This split reflects the deep polarisation in Poland, which was also evident in the razor-thin margin of the presidential vote. Adding to the controversy related to the elections are doubts about the impartiality of the Supreme Court chamber responsible for reviewing electoral complaints. The majority of its judges were appointed under the PiS government before 2023, sparking rule-of-law-related concerns from the European Commission. The EU Court of Justice ruled that this chamber should not be regarded as a court within the meaning of EU law.
Metro
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Last 'LGBT free zones' in Poland are finally scrapped - what happens next?
When Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski declared in 2019 that the city is LGBTQ+ friendly, he probably didn't think it would launch a campaign of discrimination across Poland. With a large percentage of the population identifying as Catholic, and a history of largely right-wing governments, it seemed an unlikely place for its capital to be declared as LGBTQ+ friendly. A wave of homophobia then swept across the country and by 2020, more than 100 anti-LGBT resolutions popped up in the south and east of Poland. Activists started protesting, branding the areas as 'LGBTQ+ free zones.' Last month, in the town of Łańcut, officials announced they had finally abolished the last of the LGBTQ+ free zones after more than five years – signalling hope for the future. But with another right-wing president elected and an MP kicked out of parliament recently for trashing an LGBTQ+ exhibition, the community is fearful of what's still to come. Olga Pawłowska-Plesińska described her creeping dread when the LGBTQ+ free zones started being enacted. 'At first, we thought that it was a harmless act by a small group of fanatics that would end quickly,' she told Metro. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! 'Soon we realised discriminatory resolutions spread around the country.' The 38-year-old from Warsaw has been with the Campaign Against Homophobia (KPH) for three years, but has been an activist for 15 years. 'In 2019, our community became the main scapegoat of the parliamentary election campaign, and was used as a means to create and manage social fear through public media,' she said. 'We were all astonished and terrified. The spread of anti-LGBT resolutions was overwhelming and significantly raised the levels of stress among the community. 'Even though the resolutions had mostly symbolic meaning and didn't lead to any practical changes, on the psychological level they had an enormous impact on the LGBTQ+ community. 'Imagine that one day you wake up in the morning to learn that your city, county, or district has declared itself to be a zone free from you.' The bills' impacts on people who lived in the zones couldn't have been more real. Data gathered by KPH found LGBT+ people living in the zones experienced more suicidal thoughts, increasing by 16%. Ko Natoński is from one of the regions which introduced an anti-LGBT resolution. The 24-year-old moved away from Łańcucki Powiat to study in Warsaw in 2019, a couple of months after the LGBT free zone was established, but said it didn't play a part in their decision to leave. They told Metro: 'Many of my friends and I moved to Warsaw with no intention of going back. 'I didn't know a single openly LGBT+ person before coming to Warsaw, even after having attended high school in fairly large Rzeszów.' After the final discriminatory bill was repealed, Ko said: 'The sliver of joy after the last LGBT free zone was gone was quickly overshadowed by the right-wing extremist surge in the elections.' Along with Ko, Zuza Głowacka and Adam Musielak both work at Warsaw House, a charity which supports LGBTQ+ homeless youths. Zuza told Metro: 'When there is hatred in the top government it trickles down to communities, to families, to schools, and then young people are rejected by their families and often times thrown out of their homes. 'In Poland, the cities are much more queer friendly, but they're also much more expensive. You want to go to a place where you are accepted and there's a community, but you can't afford to live there. 'We have people running away from their families and the conservative parts of Poland to come to Warsaw and be safe, and also be themselves. 'I think especially for young people their first instinct is 'I need to be where I'm safe and have a community and be able to be myself'.' The Atlas of Hate (Atlas Nienawiści) website is an interactive map which serves as a record of how much of Poland – about a third of the country – tried to reject its LGBTQ+ residents. It documented authorities considering or enacting resolutions opposing 'LGBTQ+ ideology' or creating charters of family rights. Far right group Ordo Iuris even created a ready-to-pass Charter of Family Rights (SKPR), which was used by several authorities. The bills have all since been rejected. They were either never enacted in the first place or have been repealed following pushback. The EU withdrew funding to some of these regions due to their discriminatory nature – meaning some lost millions of Euros or scrapped the bills to keep the cash. But seven local authorities sued the four activists behind the Atlas of Hate. They said the map defamed them and demanded the four founders pay 20,000 złoty (£3,900) and publicly apologise to each of them. Thankfully, almost all of the lawsuits have ended in victory for the four Atlas of Hate creators. Two of the authorities withdrew their claims while the other five were dismissed by regional courts. Two appeals against those dismissals are awaiting decision. Jakub Gawron is from Rzeszów in the south eastern part of Poland. He's one of the founders of Atlas of Hate and has been co-organising equality marches in the city for several years. He said he and the other creators were 'overwhelmed' when the Atlas became 'capable of influencing local government officials, politicians, and EU institutions'. Speaking to Metro about his next steps, Jakub said: 'I will continue to help organize the equality march in Rzeszow. I also want to summarize the history of Atlas Nienawiści in a book. 'Unfortunately, after the election of Nawrocki as president, the prospect of a coalition government of far-right parties in the next two years has become real. 'We expect that in a few years this government will be putting forward proposals to ban transition and equality marches, like in Hungary and Russia.' Now the LGBT free zones are gone, activists are turning their attention to the next milestones to improve life for the queer people living in Poland. When asked what he thinks the community will turn to next, Adam said: 'I think everybody's waiting for legal same-sex relationships. Marriage is something that we dream of, but even unions between same-sex couples is something everybody is waiting for.' Despite being one of the first European nations to decriminalise homosexuality in 1932, gay marriage is still illegal. 'Even in some polls, the Polish people agree with this,' Adam said. 'So I think that's the main thing everybody is waiting for. 'We just changed the law for transgender people, because previously they had to sue their parents to change their sex on documents, now that's finally changed so this is great for them. 'Those are the two main things, same-sex unions and hate crimes against the LGBTQ community, because it's still not considered a hate crime.' Metro spoke to Hubert Sobecki, a board member of the Polish campaign for marriage equality campaign Love Does Not Exclude (Miłość Nie Wyklucza). He said the presidential elections earlier this month, which saw Polish nationalist and conservative Karol Nawrocki take the top job, have caused pessimism within the community. Discussing Nawrocki's views about the LGBTQ+ community, Hubert, from Warsaw, said: 'The way he sees us is subhuman, let's be frank. 'He did not openly use hate speech. He did not repeat the slogan about LGBT+ being an ideology rather than people. But his campaign tried to stir moral panic around trans issues. 'The main problem is that we have no rights, so it's very difficult to say that the woke madness has gone too far because it never started. 'It's very clear to us that he is a product of his own political background. When it comes to his past, and the kind of person he seems to be, it's terrifying. 'He's a scary guy. He is definitely a risk for the country, not just for the community.' And what of the Love Does Not Exclude campaign for same-sex marriage? 'We will still be campaigning about marriage equality, it's our mission, and we have public support, around 50% at this point, which means it's working,' Hubert explained. 'Earlier this month we were talking with the minister for equality from this government about the draft of the civil unions bill passing parliament, and now should it even pass, it won't be signed. 'We put quite a lot of effort into making this draft happen, and we pressured politicians to support it once it gets read, discussed and voted on, and now it doesn't matter. 'The good thing is that we did survive the previous government and the previous president, so we know how to approach this.' Looking to the future of LGBTQ+ activism in Poland is daunting, Hubert said, but all the while he is trying to 'count his blessings'. More Trending He said: 'This is not Russia, and this is not Hungary. We might become Hungary within the next two years, but we're not there yet and that's a blessing. 'Nobody's talking about making us illegal, nobody's talking about calling us foreign agents, and nobody's talking about attacking us physically using the Secret Service, something that did happen in Budapest. 'All those things might come, but they're not here yet. 'I think we [Polish people] have contrarianism in our blood, and I think self-organisation and protests show that we are able as a society to come together and make this sort of effort.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: I told my date my sexual preferences and was immediately ghosted MORE: I'm allowed to date other women – my partner isn't MORE: This is the best London neighbourhood to be LGBTQ+ in 2025
Euronews
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
What's at stake for Europe if the Strait of Hormuz is blocked?
Thousands of pride parade attendees took to the streets in Vienna, Warsaw, Rome and Athens on Saturday, waving rainbow flags and holding up signs of protest as they celebrated pride month, while also demanding political and social equality for the LGBTQ+ community in their respective countries. Warsaw's pride parade went through the city centre and headed through the Old Town. The "Equality Parade" began on Saturday afternoon, and was attended by thousands of demonstrators. Under the slogan "Love is the answer", the event's organisers expressed the hope that they could help others to express their LGBTQ+ identity openly and without fear. "We don't want to talk about such matters somewhere underground, we don't want to hide in basements - we come to the surface to talk about it," said Rafał Dembe, president of the Equality Volunteering Foundation at a press conference ahead of the march. During the conference, the organisers said that the demonstration in Warsaw is the largest of its kind in the country. Among the most notable attendees of the parade were mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski, who recently found himself on the losing side of the country's presidential election, member of the European Parliament Robert Biedroń and Minister of Equality Katarzyna Kotula. Four days earlier, Kotula submitted a bill to parliament to introduce civil partnerships, including for same-sex couples. Speaking to the crowd at the start of the parade, Trzaskowski said "Remember that I have been saying for many years that together we are building Warsaw, which is an open and tolerant city, where these values are not only appreciated but also promoted." Braving the scorching hot 35 degree weather, thousands of people walked the city of Rome from Piazza della Repubblica to Via Cavour to participate in the Italian capital's pride march. Three motorcyclists with roaring engines kicked off the parade. Right behind them was the leader of the parade, holding a large banner with the word "Outlaw", written on it. The banner is in protest of what organisers see as the conservative incumbent government's lack of support for LGBTQ+ rights. Among those taking part in the demonstration were the spokesperson of the Capitoline parade, Mario Colamarino, and the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri. ''We are here for the rights of all, to have a more inclusive and equal Italy, better than the one we have now. 'Outlaws' is what we are in this country today, we must fight and we must be many," said Colamarino. The event in Rome was held not only to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride, but also to protest the ongoing conflict in Gaza, for which a one-minute silence was held. Many Palestinian flags and banners were waved alongside rainbow flags, as people chanted slogans for free love and equality. Along with house and pop music, the Italian partisan anthem "Bella Ciao" was also sung by the demonstrators. A float satirically depicting Hungarian Prime Miniser Viktor Orban - whose government was last week denied a request to hold a pride march in Budapest - was also rolled out, an initiative by the Italian +Europa party. "Today, more than ever, it is important to attend pride at a time when in the world there are autocracies, illiberal democracies, fundamentalist regimes that attack civil rights and individual freedoms in Hungary, as well as in Russia and Trump's United States, where some words, such as 'gay', are banned on institutional websites", said the party's secretary, Riccardo Magi. 2025 marks the 20th year since the first Athens Pride was held, and this year's slogan is "We Count". This has a double meaning in Greek - the phrase can either mean "we matter", but can also mean to take stock of something. The latter is in reference to recollecting everything that has happened since June 2005, when the first Athens pride parade was held. According to the organisers, this includes joy, such as the pride and liberation of the first years, losses due to hate and homophobic attacks, victories such as same-sex civic union and marriage, but also disappointment such as the stigma that remains, as well as the fight for visibility and rights. "Now, more than ever, the global context shows us that no acquis (law) can be taken for granted. Instead, our rights and our very existence are being challenged every day. The rise of the far right and the normalisation of hate speech in political and media discourse are a threat to all of us. The exclusion of LGBTQ+ refugees and migrants is intensifying, leading to the exclusion of people on the basis of racist, sexist, homophobic and/or transphobic motives," the organisers say on their website. "For all this, our presence in the public space will continue to be our undeniable right, a historical duty and an act of resistance against a public discourse of abuse that seeks to erase us. The struggle for equality is ongoing and remains unabated. We are and will be here to keep them going," the organisers say on their website. Pride month is celebrated in Athens with a variety of cultural events, screenings, performances, parties, shows, panel discussions, workshops and seminars, many of point to the now 20-year history of pride in the Greek capital, with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives also taking centre stage. Revolutionary Guard commander Sardar Esmail Kowsari told local media in an interview closing the Strait of Hormuz "is under consideration, and Iran will make the best decision with determination." "Our hands are wide open when it comes to punishing the enemy, and the military response was only part of our overall response," added Kowsari, who is a member of parliament in addition to his military position. Iran's short- and medium-range missiles would be capable of targeting oil infrastructure platforms, pipelines in the Strait, or even attacking commercial vessels, and surface-to-surface missiles could target tankers or ports along the Gulf. Airstrikes using aircraft and drones could disable navigation or radar equipment at major shipping ports in the region. Unmanned drones like Iran's Shahed models could potentially be used to attack specific shipping lanes or infrastructure in the Strait. Iran could attempt to deploy warships to physically block access to the Strait. In 2012, Iran launched a cyberattack on Saudi Arabia's oil industry, showing its growing capability in this domain. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategically vital chokepoints in the world, and any blockade by Iran would pose serious risks for Europe. Blocking the Strait was one of four Iranian responses to the conflict including terrorist acts on mainland Europe which security expert Claude Moniquet cited in an interview with Euronews. It would be 'a disaster for Europe', the former French intelligence office said. Here are some of the reasons why. Roughly 20% of global oil and a significant portion of natural gas pass through the Strait. Europe imports oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Gulf states Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE much of which travels through the Strait. If Iran blocks it, global oil prices would spike, and Europe could face energy shortages, especially in countries dependent on Middle Eastern fuel. A sudden oil price surge would increase inflation, energy costs, and disrupt industries across Europe. Manufacturing, transport, and agriculture sectors would be especially vulnerable. Market reactions and volatility in European stock exchanges could be a knock-on effect. A blockade could trigger military confrontations involving the US, EU navies, and Gulf states, risking a broader regional war. Europe might be drawn into the conflict through NATO obligations or alliances, especially with countries like France or the UK maintaining naval presence in the region. Beyond oil, the Strait is a key route for global shipping. Disruption could delay European imports of raw materials, electronics, and consumer goods, affecting supply chains. Insurance premiums for shipping could spike, raising costs for European businesses and consumers. At least three people have been injured and 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid were destroyed after a Russian drone strike on a warehouse in Ukraine's southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia in the early hours of Saturday. The injured were two police officers and a civilian, according to local officials. The damage from the strike is estimated at around $3 million. The aid was set to be provided to people who were internally displaced, as well as to residents in frontline areas of the war. Shops, a multi-storey building and a public transport stop were also reportedly damaged in the attack. Oleksandr Beluga, founder of the NGO Beluga UA, told local media ""Now everything has been destroyed, two days ago we received help from 5 trucks. There is approximately $3 million worth of damage here." Aside from Zaporizhzhia, the regions of Kharkiv, Donetsk and Dnipro were also targeted in an attack which consisted of a total of 58 Shahedattack UAVs, as well as various types of imitation drones, reported the Ukrainian air force. 43 were neutralised, they said, with 23 being shot down and 20 having their signals jammed. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military also reported that it had carried out overnight drone strikes targeting two Russian chemical plants that were tied to the production of explosives. "As part of efforts to reduce (Russia's) ability to produce explosives and ammunition, the Ukrainian Armed Forces' drone systems, in coordination with other Defense Forces units, struck critical facilities of Russia's military-industrial complex overnight," said Ukraine's General Staff. The chemical plants were reportedly located in Stavropol Krai and Samara Oblast. Both were identified as major suppliers of raw materials and components for the production of Russia's weapons and fuel. The Stavropol governor confirmed the strike, saying that drone debris had landed in the city's industrial zone. On Friday, the bodies of 1,200 soldiers were returned to Ukraine as part of an agreement reached between Russia and Ukraine during their 2 June peace talks in Istanbul. Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War released a statement saying that Russia returned 1,200 bodies, and 'according to the Russian side, the bodies belong to Ukrainian citizens, in particular military personnel.' It was the only tangible achievement of the Istanbul talks, with 1,212 bodies also being returned by Russia earlier this week, with 27 dead soldiers going the other way. The two sides conducted a prisoners of war swap on Thursday, which included badly wounded and gravely ill captives. Their numbers were not disclosed, however.
Euronews
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
LGBT+ pride parades held in several of Europe's capitals
Thousands of pride parade attendees took to the streets in Vienna, Warsaw, Rome and Athens on Saturday, waving rainbow flags and holding up signs of protest as they celebrated pride month, while also demanding political and social equality for the LGBTQ+ community in their respective countries. Warsaw's pride parade went through the city centre and headed through the Old Town. The "Equality Parade" began on Saturday afternoon, and was attended by thousands of demonstrators. Under the slogan "Love is the answer", the event's organisers expressed the hope that they could help others to express their LGBTQ+ identity openly and without fear. "We don't want to talk about such matters somewhere underground, we don't want to hide in basements - we come to the surface to talk about it," said Rafał Dembe, president of the Equality Volunteering Foundation at a press conference ahead of the march. During the conference, the organisers said that the demonstration in Warsaw is the largest of its kind in the country. Among the most notable attendees of the parade were mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski, who recently found himself on the losing side of the country's presidential election, member of the European Parliament Robert Biedroń and Minister of Equality Katarzyna Kotula. Four days earlier, Kotula submitted a bill to parliament to introduce civil partnerships, including for same-sex couples. Speaking to the crowd at the start of the parade, Trzaskowski said "Remember that I have been saying for many years that together we are building Warsaw, which is an open and tolerant city, where these values are not only appreciated but also promoted." Braving the scorching hot 35 degree weather, thousands of people walked the city of Rome from Piazza della Repubblica to Via Cavour to participate in the Italian capital's pride march. Three motorcyclists with roaring engines kicked off the parade. Right behind them was the leader of the parade, holding a large banner with the word "Outlaw", written on it. The banner is in protest of what organisers see as the conservative incumbent government's lack of support for LGBTQ+ rights. Among those taking part in the demonstration were the spokesperson of the Capitoline parade, Mario Colamarino, and the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri. ''We are here for the rights of all, to have a more inclusive and equal Italy, better than the one we have now. 'Outlaws' is what we are in this country today, we must fight and we must be many," said Colamarino. The event in Rome was held not only to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride, but also to protest the ongoing conflict in Gaza, for which a one-minute silence was held. Many Palestinian flags and banners were waved alongside rainbow flags, as people chanted slogans for free love and equality. Along with house and pop music, the Italian partisan anthem "Bella Ciao" was also sung by the demonstrators. A float satirically depicting Hungarian Prime Miniser Viktor Orban - whose government was last week denied a request to hold a pride march in Budapest - was also rolled out, an initiative by the Italian +Europa party. "Today, more than ever, it is important to attend pride at a time when in the world there are autocracies, illiberal democracies, fundamentalist regimes that attack civil rights and individual freedoms in Hungary, as well as in Russia and Trump's United States, where some words, such as 'gay', are banned on institutional websites", said the party's secretary, Riccardo Magi. 2025 marks the 20th year since the first Athens Pride was held, and this year's slogan is "We Count". This has a double meaning in Greek - the phrase can either mean "we matter", but can also mean to take stock of something. The latter is in reference to recollecting everything that has happened since June 2005, when the first Athens pride parade was held. According to the organisers, this includes joy, such as the pride and liberation of the first years, losses due to hate and homophobic attacks, victories such as same-sex civic union and marriage, but also disappointment such as the stigma that remains, as well as the fight for visibility and rights. "Now, more than ever, the global context shows us that no acquis (law) can be taken for granted. Instead, our rights and our very existence are being challenged every day. The rise of the far right and the normalisation of hate speech in political and media discourse are a threat to all of us. The exclusion of LGBTQ+ refugees and migrants is intensifying, leading to the exclusion of people on the basis of racist, sexist, homophobic and/or transphobic motives," the organisers say on their website. "For all this, our presence in the public space will continue to be our undeniable right, a historical duty and an act of resistance against a public discourse of abuse that seeks to erase us. The struggle for equality is ongoing and remains unabated. We are and will be here to keep them going," the organisers say on their website. Pride month is celebrated in Athens with a variety of cultural events, screenings, performances, parties, shows, panel discussions, workshops and seminars, many of point to the now 20-year history of pride in the Greek capital, with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives also taking centre stage. Revolutionary Guard commander Sardar Esmail Kowsari told local media in an interview closing the Strait of Hormuz "is under consideration, and Iran will make the best decision with determination." "Our hands are wide open when it comes to punishing the enemy, and the military response was only part of our overall response," added Kowsari, who is a member of parliament in addition to his military position. Iran's short- and medium-range missiles would be capable of targeting oil infrastructure platforms, pipelines in the Strait, or even attacking commercial vessels, and surface-to-surface missiles could target tankers or ports along the Gulf. Airstrikes using aircraft and drones could disable navigation or radar equipment at major shipping ports in the region. Unmanned drones like Iran's Shahed models could potentially be used to attack specific shipping lanes or infrastructure in the Strait. Iran could attempt to deploy warships to physically block access to the Strait. In 2012, Iran launched a cyberattack on Saudi Arabia's oil industry, showing its growing capability in this domain. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategically vital chokepoints in the world, and any blockade by Iran would pose serious risks for Europe. Blocking the Strait was one of four Iranian responses to the conflict including terrorist acts on mainland Europe which security expert Claude Moniquet cited in an interview with Euronews. It would be 'a disaster for Europe', the former French intelligence office said. Here are some of the reasons why. Roughly 20% of global oil and a significant portion of natural gas pass through the Strait. Europe imports oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Gulf states Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE much of which travels through the Strait. If Iran blocks it, global oil prices would spike, and Europe could face energy shortages, especially in countries dependent on Middle Eastern fuel. A sudden oil price surge would increase inflation, energy costs, and disrupt industries across Europe. Manufacturing, transport, and agriculture sectors would be especially vulnerable. Market reactions and volatility in European stock exchanges could be a knock-on effect. A blockade could trigger military confrontations involving the US, EU navies, and Gulf states, risking a broader regional war. Europe might be drawn into the conflict through NATO obligations or alliances, especially with countries like France or the UK maintaining naval presence in the region. Beyond oil, the Strait is a key route for global shipping. Disruption could delay European imports of raw materials, electronics, and consumer goods, affecting supply chains. Insurance premiums for shipping could spike, raising costs for European businesses and consumers.
