Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned that those who attend or organize a banned Budapest Pride march in violation of police regulations will face legal consequences. The move comes after Orban’s right-wing government passed legislation banning LGBTQ marches, citing the need to protect children.
The law also allows police to use facial recognition cameras and impose fines on those who attend. Critics see this as part of a broader crackdown on democratic freedoms ahead of next year’s general election.
Orban stated that adults should respect the rules and face consequences if they don’t. However, he claims Hungary is a “civilized country” where his police task is to convince people to follow the law. He also likened European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s call for the Pride parade to go ahead as receiving orders from Moscow in communist times.
Orban’s government has promoted a conservative agenda affecting LGBTQ people, and he has criticized von der Leyen for imposing her will on Hungary. Thirty countries, including Britain, France, and Germany, have expressed support for Hungary’s LGBTQ community and the Pride march.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/hungarys-pm-orban-warns-legal-consequences-over-banned-budapest-pride-march-2025-06-27