Hungary’s government has issued a stark warning to European Union ambassadors and their staff, advising them against attending a planned LGBTQ+ Pride march in Budapest scheduled for Saturday, June 28.
According to a letter from Justice Minister Bence Tuzson seen by Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Hungarian authorities deem the event a “legally banned assembly.” The letter, dated Tuesday, explicitly stated that participation constitutes an “infraction” and urged embassies to inform their personnel accordingly. “The legal situation is clear: the Pride parade is a legally banned assembly (…) those who take part in an event prohibited by the authorities commit an infraction,” the letter read.
This official stance follows a police decision last week to ban the country’s main Pride march. Authorities justified the ban under recent legislation passed in March, which prohibits the promotion of same-sex relationships to individuals under 18 years old, claiming it provides a legal basis to ban LGBTQ+ parades on “child protection” grounds.
Organizers and Mayor Defy Ban
However, the organizers of the Budapest Pride event, which is orchestrated by the city council, have fiercely challenged the government’s position. They have communicated to embassies that the police lack the legal authority to ban an event organized by the city hall and maintain that the march is “neither banned nor unlawful.”
Budapest Pride president Viktoria Radvanyi affirmed their determination for the event to proceed safely. The city’s liberal mayor has also openly defied the police interdiction, asserting the police’s inability to ban a city-organized event and authorizing the 30th annual march to go ahead as a “celebration of the city’s freedom,” an action intended to circumvent the national police ban.
Broader Crackdown on LGBTQ+ Rights
This conflict over the Pride march is viewed as part of a broader pattern under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government, which has enacted a series of laws since returning to power in 2010 criticized for curtailing LGBTQ+ rights in the name of “child protection.”
Previous measures include:
Banning legal gender recognition (since 2020).
Effectively preventing adoption by same-sex couples.
Requiring LGBTQ+ children’s literature to be sealed in plastic wrap.
Restricting content promoting homosexuality or gender transition in schools and media.
Risks for Participants and Organizers
The ban and government warnings carry tangible risks for those who choose to attend. Participants could face a fine of up to €500 (approximately $580). Concerns have also been raised that police may utilize facial recognition technology to identify individuals participating in the event. Organizers face even more severe consequences, risking a one-year prison sentence.
International Outcry and Solidarity
The situation has drawn significant attention and criticism from across Europe and beyond.
EU Presence: Several Members of the European Parliament (reportedly over 70) have publicly stated their intention to attend the march. European equalities commissioner Hadja Lahbib is also expected in Budapest and may attend, as may ministers from several EU countries.
Commission President’s Plea: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on Hungarian authorities to reverse the ban and refrain from punishing organizers or participants, urging them to “allow the Budapest pride to go ahead” and identifying herself as an LGBTQ+ ally.
Country Condemnation: A coalition of countries (cited as 16 or 32 across sources, including major nations like Britain, France, and Germany) has publicly condemned Hungary’s action, expressing support for the Hungarian LGBTQ+ community and the march. Some have called on the European Commission to initiate legal proceedings against Hungary for violating the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Travel Warnings: Several European countries, including Belgium, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and the Netherlands, have issued travel advisories warning their citizens about the risks of attending the banned march, highlighting the potential for legal consequences, fines, and the use of facial recognition technology.
Heightened Safety Concerns
Adding to the tension, there are heightened safety risks for attendees due to a planned counter-demonstration. The far-right Our Homeland party has obtained a police permit for a gathering along the same route intended for the Pride march and has called on supporters to occupy bridges to prevent the Pride event. Authorities and travel advisories (like Belgium’s) have voiced concerns about the potential for violence and advised Pride attendees to maintain distance from potential counter-demonstrations and follow police instructions.
Orbán Rejects EU Pressure
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has firmly rejected international calls to lift the ban, dismissing them as EU overreach into Hungary’s domestic affairs and law enforcement. He reiterated that anyone defying the ban and participating would face “clear legal consequences,” though he also suggested police would prioritize persuasion over forceful dispersal in a “civilized country.” Orbán has framed his government’s stance through a lens of national sovereignty, traditional values, and even Christianity, causing friction with the EU, which champions human rights and equality. He reportedly compared receiving instructions from the EU on this matter to receiving instructions from Moscow during the communist era.
As the banned Budapest Pride march approaches, the standoff highlights a significant clash between Hungary’s increasingly conservative government and the EU over fundamental rights and freedoms, leaving attendees facing potential legal risks and the local LGBTQ+ community feeling the impact of eroding protections.
References
- <a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/06/26/hungary-warns-its-eu-partners-not-to-attend-a-banned-pride-parade67427324.html”>www.lemonde.fr
- www.travelandtourworld.com
- www.euronews.com
- uk.news.yahoo.com
- bnn-news.com
