EditBudapest pride swells into anti-Orbán rally with strong MEP support and rising backing for Péter Magyar
Local media estimate that 100,000 participated, including students, families, and first-time protesters from rural areas
On Saturday (28 June) Budapest’s banned Pride march drew tens of thousands, transforming into a massive anti-government protest against Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s policies, with significant participation from 70 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and growing public support for opposition leader Péter Magyar.
On Saturday, Budapest’s banned LGBTQ+ Pride march escalated into one of the largest anti-government demonstrations against Orbán. In sweltering heat, crowds filled a square near Budapest’s city hall, spilling across the Erzsebet bridge with rainbow flags and signs mocking Orbán.
Local media estimated 100,000 participants, including students, families, and first-time protesters from rural areas, united under the slogan “None of us are free until everyone is free.” Eszter Rein Bodi, a marcher, emphasized the broader fight for rights, stating, “This is the last moment to stand up.”
Orbán’s government, promoting a Christian-conservative agenda, has curtailed LGBTQ+ rights over the past decade, culminating in a March 2025 law banning Pride bans under the guise of “child protection.”
Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony attempted to bypass the ban by framing Pride as a municipal event, but police prohibited it, citing the new law.
Orbán warned of “legal consequences,” with Justice Minister Bence Tuzson noting potential one-year jail terms for organisers and fines for attendees, enforceable via facial recognition.
Small groups of far-right counter-protesters attempted to disrupt the peaceful march, but police separated them and diverted the route of the march to avoid any clashes.
Orbán and his government, who promote a Christian-conservative agenda and have championed family values, have defended the restrictions saying that the need to protect children supersedes all other rights.
Orbán posted a photo with his grandchildren on the morning of the march, with the caption: “This is what I am proud of.” Several of his supporters followed suit.
MEP presence and rising support for Péter Magyar
A standout feature was the participation of 70 MEPs, signaling robust European Parliament support for Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community and democratic freedoms. Over 30 embassies, including those of major Western nations, endorsed the march, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged Hungarian authorities to allow it.
The rally’s scale reflects growing public discontent with Orbán’s 15-year dominance, bolstered by the rise of centre-right opposition leader Péter Magyar and his Tisza party. A June 2025 poll showed Tisza leading Orbán’s Fidesz by 15 points, a shift fuelled by public frustration over policies which are leading to Hungary becoming a pariah in the EU.
Political analyst Gabor Torok noted that while Orbán’s anti-LGBTQ+ stance initially boosted his support, the ban’s fallout has shifted sentiment. Tisza has avoided a clear stance on gay rights but insisted attendees deserved state protection, signalling a strategic appeal to a broad base ahead of the 2026 national election.
With Reuters, edited by g.g.
Caption: Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony (5-L), MP of Parbeszed party Timea Szabo (6-L) and Mayor of the 7th district in Budapest Peter Niedermueller (4-L) attend the Budapest Pride march in Budapest, Hungary, 28 June 2025. Thousands of people gathered at the Pride march despite a law passed earlier this year banning Pride events. EPA/ZOLTAN BALOGH
Updated: June 29, 2025 - 05:48
