In Hungary, the mayor of Budapest maintains the march of pride despite his police ban

Hungarian police announced on Thursday, June 19, the ban on the pride march scheduled for June 28 in Budapest, invoking a recent anti-LGBT+ law of the nationalist government of Viktor Orban, but the ecological mayor of the capital replied by maintaining the rally.

“The police, acting within the framework of their competence in terms of public rallies, prohibits the hold” From the demonstration, she specifies in a decision published on her website, which can however be disputed with the Supreme Court.

The 16-page document refers to the law adopted in mid-March aimed at banning any rally which would violate the legislation of 2021 prohibiting evoking with minors “Homosexuality and sex change”. He also relies on a constitutional amendment voted shortly after claiming “The primacy of children's right to correct physical, mental and moral development on any other right”including that of gathering.

“This prohibition decision has no value”

“It can only be excluded from people under the age of 18 are exposed to behaviors prohibited by law”being present at the march or “Passively” Because of his public nature, argues the police chief. According to the authorities, the march must be organized in a specific place, out of the eyes of the children.

For the mayor of Budapest, who announced on Monday taking care of the organization hoping to bypass the legislation, “This prohibition decision has no value”.

No official authorization is necessary since it is a “Municipal event”wrote on Facebook Gergely Karacsony. “On June 28, the municipality will organize the Budapest Pride. Final point. »»

“Together with Budapest, we will protect” the LGBT+ community but also “Those who are afraid and keep silence, civil society” As a whole, had promised at the start of the week Maté Hegedus, spokesperson for the Pride Marche. “It is our constitutional right to bring us peacefully. »»

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has hindered the rights of LGBT+ persons for years in the name of “Child protection”and crossed a CAP by voting for these new measures, which arouse the concern of Brussels and many EU countries. After their adoption, thousands of people had demonstrated in the capital to protest this new hardening.

On the left and in the center, a few dozen MEPs – including the President of Centrists, Valérie Hayer, and La Cheffe des Grerts, Terry Réintke – have planned to join the procession to denounce the policy of Mr. Orban, accused of authoritarian drift in fifteen years of power.

The European Commissioner responsible for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, should also be present, as are ministers in European countries, according to the organizers.

The participants are exposed to a fine of up to 500 euros, sum “Who will be donated to child protection”. With the possibility for the police to identify offenders thanks to facial recognition tools.