Budapest Pride Draws 200,000 Defying Government Ban

Despite a government ban and threats of legal consequences from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the Budapest Pride march drew an unprecedented crowd of approximately 200,000 participants, making it the largest in its 30-year history. The march, held under the slogan "Freedom and love cannot be banned," was supported by Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony and several European politicians, with solidarity shown by representatives from cities like Barcelona, Paris, Athens, and London. The event was peaceful, with police refraining from intervention, although legal repercussions were threatened for attendees under Hungary's controversial child protection law that restricts LGBTQ+ promotion. The law, enacted by Orbán's Fidesz party, has drawn criticism from the European Parliament and the European Commission for undermining LGBTQ+ rights and European values. Organizers framed the event as a strong international expression of resistance against regressive policies, with the march's success highlighting growing opposition to Orbán's nationalist government within Hungary and across Europe. Media aligned with Orbán's party attempted to downplay the event by focusing on minor disturbances and traffic issues rather than the massive turnout or the underlying human rights issues.