EditOrbán slams Budapest pride as EU-orchestrated “shameful” protest
The march, attended by 70 MEPs, underscored growing domestic and international resistance to Orbán’s 15-year rule
On 28 June an estimated 100,000 people defied a police ban to join Budapest’s Pride march, which swelled into one of the largest anti-government protests against Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in recent years. Orbán, speaking on 29 June 2in a closed online group for his supporters called Fight Club, labelled the event “repulsive and shameful,” accusing the EU of orchestrating opposition politicians to mobilize voters.
The march, attended by 70 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), underscored growing domestic and international resistance to Orbán’s 15-year rule, fuelled by rising support for opposition leader Péter Magyar.
Orbán’s accusations and EU involvement
Orbán claimed, without evidence, that opposition politicians, instructed by “Brussels,” drove high turnout at the Pride march, alleging they aimed to destabilise his government.
“These people must not be allowed near the helm of government,” he told supporters, as quoted by Index, condemning elements like a drag queen show and pamphlets on hormonal therapies. He singled out Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony, who organized the event as a municipal gathering to bypass the ban, accusing him of being a “puppet” of the EU.
Orbán also criticized European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who urged Hungary to allow the march, likening her stance to “orders from Moscow” during communist times.
The march was banned under a March 2025 law amending the Act on the Right of Assembly, which prohibits public events promoting LGBTQ+ rights to “protect children.” The law allows fines and up to one year in prison for organisers, with police using facial recognition to identify attendees, prompting EU concerns about GDPR violations.
MEP participation and political group statements
The presence of 70 MEPs from across the EU was a significant show of solidarity, organised by the European Parliament’s LGBTI Intergroup, which coordinates support for LGBTQ+ rights. The Socialists & Democrats (S&D) group, with 136 MEPs in the 720-seat Parliament, issued a statement on 27 June:
“We stand with Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community against Orbán’s discriminatory laws, which violate EU values and fundamental rights.”
The Renew Europe group (78 MEPs) added, “The Pride ban is a blatant attack on freedom of assembly; our members’ presence in Budapest sends a clear message of resistance.”
The Greens/EFA (53 MEPs) condemned the ban as “a tool to suppress dissent,” pledging to push for EU sanctions. These statements reflect broad EU parliamentary support, contrasting with Orbán’s claim of external meddling and highlighting Hungary’s isolation, as seen in the “EU minus Orbán” approach to Ukraine’s accession.
Rising support for Péter Magyar
The protest’s scale reflects growing public discontent, amplified by Péter Magyar’s Tisza party, which polls show leading Orbán’s Fidesz by 15 points ahead of the 2026 election. Magyar, a former Fidesz insider, has capitalised on public anger over corruption and authoritarianism without explicitly endorsing LGBTQ+ rights, broadening his appeal.
The Pride rally, attended by diverse groups including students and rural residents, signals a societal shift, with Magyar’s neutral stance allowing him to harness anti-Orbán sentiment without alienating conservative voters. This dynamic threatens Fidesz’s dominance, as Orbán’s anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, once a vote-winner, now risks backfiring amid widespread calls for democratic reform.
Orbán’s government has curtailed LGBTQ+ rights since 2010, banning same-sex adoption (2020), gender recognition (2020), and content for minors (2021). The March 2025 law, reinforced by an April constitutional amendment prioritizing “children’s moral development,” escalates this crackdown, aligning with Orbán’s Christian-conservative agenda. However, the protest’s size and international backing, including from 30 embassies, expose his weakening grip.
With Reuters, Index and political parties’ statements, edited by g.g.
Caption: Participants cross the Elizabeth Bridge during 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/SZILARD KOSZTICSAK
Updated: June 30, 2025 - 04:46
