HUNGARY HAS PASSED a bill aimed at banning Budapest’s annual Pride march, which critics say curtails fundamental rights and continues the crackdown on the EU country’s LGBTQ community.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government says it has never supported the parade and in recent years it has been gradually rolling back on LGBTQ rights in the name of “child protection”.

The legislation – drafted by Orban’s governing Fidesz-KDNP coalition – aims to ban the Pride march on the basis that it infringes on Hungary’s much-criticised “child protection” law, making it possible to fine those who attend the event.

The bill – submitted yesterday morning and fast-tracked under an exceptional procedure – passed the 199-seat National Assembly with 136 voting in favour and 27 against.

It stipulates that it is “forbidden to hold an assembly in violation of” a 2021 law that bans the “promotion and display” of homosexuality to minors.

The law governing the rights of assembly is also amended, saying that only events “respecting the right of children to proper physical, mental and moral development may take place”.

Organisers or participants of a banned event could risk fines of up to €500, with police being allowed to use facial recognition tools to identify potential offenders.

Deputies of the right-wing Jobbik and the far-right Our Homeland party also supported the measure.

Opposition politicians from the liberal Momentum disrupted the vote by shouting, lighting flares and playing the old Soviet Union anthem.

In his annual state of the nation address in February, Orban warned Pride organisers against preparing for this year’s event, saying it would be “a waste of money and time”.

Last month, the government said the Pride march would no longer “be tolerated” in the “same public form” as previously. 

The EU’s Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, former Irish finance minister Michael McGrath, said in a post on X that “everyone should be able to be who they are, live and love freely”. 

“The right to gather peacefully is a fundamental right to be championed across the European Union,” he said.

“We stand with the LGBTQI community – in Hungary & in all Member States.”

Our Union is one of freedom & equality.

Everyone should be able to be who they are, live & love freely.

The right to gather peacefully is a fundamental right to be championed across the European Union.

We stand with the LGBTQI community - in Hungary & in all Member States.

— Michael McGrath (@EUCssrMcGrath) March 18, 2025

Used as a ‘scapegoat’ 

Since returning to lead the country in 2010, Orban has faced criticism for weakening democratic institutions, including accusations of having gradually undermined the rule of law.

Emboldened by his ally US President Donald Trump returning to the White House, Hungary’s nationalist leader has ramped up his rhetoric against opponents and announced a slew of legislative measures.

On Saturday, Orban called his political enemies, judges, the media as well as NGOs “stinky bugs” and promised to “eliminate the entire shadow army”.

Later in April, parliament is slated to vote on constitutional amendments aimed at “temporarily stripping” dual nationals of their Hungarian citizenship deemed security threats or stipulating that a person is “either a man or a woman”.

Critics accuse Orban of trying to win over far-right voters with the latest measures as he attempts to hold off the threat of former insider-turned-challenger Peter Magyar, with elections scheduled for next year.

“It is easy to win votes by restricting the rights of a minority in a conservative society,” Szabolcs Hegyi, a legal expert at the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (TASZ) pointed out.

He said it is “very regrettable” that legislation that “severely curtails civil liberties” is being used to further “party interests”, warning that it could lead to a slippery slope.

“Eventually, you can get to a situation where virtually no one can protest except those who are not critical of the government’s position,” Hegyi told AFP.

March organisers have expressed defiance, saying they will go ahead with the 30th Budapest Pride on 28 June.

People are still “willing to come to Budapest Pride and show support to the community even if they have to pay fines,” spokesperson Mate Hegedus told AFP.

“We won’t be scared by the government who is using our minority, the LGBTQ community as a scapegoat” he stressed.

- © AFP 2025