Latest news with #GergelyKaracsony
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hungary Pride to go ahead, defying Orban threat of 'legal consequences'
A Budapest Pride march is expected to go ahead on Saturday, defying Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's legal threats against LGBTQ rights activists. The march organisers hope for a record attendance this year, despite mounting pressure from nationalist conservative politicians and police to stop any display of pro-LGBTQ material. Police have issued a ban, in line with a new "child protection" law that restricts gatherings considered to be promoting homosexuality. A day before the Pride, Orban downplayed the possibility of violent clashes between the police and participants - but warned those who go to face the possible legal repercussions. "Of course, the police could break up such events, because they have the authority to do so, but Hungary is a civilised country, a civic society. We don't hurt each other," Orban told state radio on Friday. "There will be legal consequences, but it cannot reach the level of physical abuse." Attendees risk a fine of up to €500 (£427; $586), with police empowered to use facial recognition technology to identify them. Organisers could face a one-year prison sentence. EU equalities commissioner Hadja Lahbib, a former Belgian foreign minister, is in Budapest and expected to join the march, along with dozens of MEPs. On Friday, Lahbib posted a picture showing her standing with the liberal Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony in front of a rainbow flag symbolising gay rights. The Pride march "will be a powerful symbol of the strength of the civil society," she wrote on X. Ahead of the Pride, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asked the Orban government not to block the march. Orban was unfazed, asking her "to refrain from interfering in the law enforcement affairs" of EU member countries.
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Hungary Pride to go ahead, as PM Orban threatens 'legal consequences'
A Budapest Pride march is expected to go ahead on Saturday, defying Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's legal threats against LGBTQ rights march organisers hope for a record attendance this year, despite mounting pressure from nationalist conservative politicians and police to stop any display of pro-LGBTQ have issued a ban, in line with a new "child protection" law that restricts gatherings considered to be promoting homosexuality.A day before the Pride, Orban downplayed the possibility of violent clashes between the police and participants - but warned those who go to face the possible legal repercussions. "Of course, the police could break up such events, because they have the authority to do so, but Hungary is a civilised country, a civic society. We don't hurt each other," Orban told state radio on Friday."There will be legal consequences, but it cannot reach the level of physical abuse."Attendees risk a fine of up to €500 (£427; $586), with police empowered to use facial recognition technology to identify could face a one-year prison equalities commissioner Hadja Lahbib, a former Belgian foreign minister, is in Budapest and expected to join the march, along with dozens of MEPs. On Friday, Lahbib posted a picture showing her standing with the liberal Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony in front of a rainbow flag symbolising gay Pride march "will be a powerful symbol of the strength of the civil society," she wrote on of the Pride, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asked the Orban government not to block the was unfazed, asking her "to refrain from interfering in the law enforcement affairs" of EU member countries.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Orban says police will not disperse Budapest Pride march
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said police will not "break up" Saturday's Budapest Pride march despite issuing a ban, but warned attendees and organisers about the legal consequences. Orban's ruling coalition amended laws and the constitution earlier this year to prohibit the annual celebration, advancing his widely condemned, years-long clampdown on LGBTQ rights in the name of "child protection". Last week, police banned the Pride march from taking place in Budapest, citing recent legal changes forbidding the promotion or display of homosexuality to under-18s. But organisers, including the Budapest city hall, disputed the legality of the decision and pledged the parade would go ahead. The ban has drawn international condemnation. "Of course, the police could break up such events, because they have the authority to do so, but Hungary is a civilised country, a civic society. We don't hurt each other," Orban told state radio during his weekly interview on Friday. "There will be legal consequences, but it cannot reach the level of physical abuse." Attendees risk a fine of up to 500 euros ($580) with police empowered to use facial recognition technology to identify them. Organisers could face a one-year prison sentence. - 'Wider push' - However, opposition Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony insisted during a briefing with visiting EU equalities commissioner Hadja Lahbib that no attendee can face any reprisals as the march is a municipal event and does not require police approval. "The police have only one task tomorrow, and it is a serious one: to ensure the safety of Hungarian and European citizens attending the event," Karacsony told journalists, warning that far-right actors could be emboldened by the government to disrupt the Pride march. Far-right groups have announced multiple counterprotests along the planned route of the procession. Dozens of EU lawmakers are expected to attend the Pride parade, as well as ministers and mayors from multiple European Union countries, according to the organisers. Lahbib said she is still assessing whether to participate given her role as commissioner, but assured the Hungarian LGBTQ community of the EU's support. "These attacks are part of a wider push to roll back progress and undo the rights that generations before us fought for," the Belgian commissioner told journalists. "The right to gather peacefully is one of those rights. It must be protected and upheld across the European Union," she added. Organisers hope Saturday's Pride march will see a record turnout of more than 35,000 to signal a strong rebuke of Orban's anti-LGBTQ policies. Hungary's nationalist premier on Friday rejected calls from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to reverse the ban, comparing her to late Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. "She considers Hungary a subordinate country and she thinks she can dictate to Hungarians from Brussels how they should live, what they should like, what they should dislike, what their legal system should be like, what should be banned and what should not be. Exactly like Brezhnev," Orban said. ros/jza/gv
New York Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Budapest Pride Parade Will Go On Despite Orban's Ban. How Will He Respond?
A government ban on gay Pride events this weekend in Budapest has put Hungary's right-wing strongman, Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in a tricky spot. Mr. Orban's party in March rushed legislation through Parliament that made it illegal to hold gatherings like Pride parades, under an earlier law banning material that 'propagates' homosexuality. Billed as an effort to protect children, it looked to politicians and analysts like a trap set for Hungary's surging opposition leader, a conservative whom Mr. Orban hoped to expose as a closet liberal soft on child protection. Instead, it may be Mr. Orban who is ensnared. Despite the ban, the Budapest Pride parade is set to go ahead on Saturday, recast by the capital city's liberal mayor, Gergely Karacsony, as a municipal event celebrating Hungary's recovery of full freedom when Soviet troops pulled out in June 1991. Tens of thousands of Hungarians and foreigners, including more than 70 European Parliament members, are expected to join a parade renamed as Budapest Pride Freedom. The mayor said that thanks to the government ban it would likely be Hungary's biggest-ever Pride parade. He predicted a turnout of at least 50,000 people. Mr. Orban and his governing Fidesz party now face a choice: try to enforce their ban and punish participants, or let the march go ahead and risk looking impotent. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
France 24
19 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
Orban says police will not disperse Budapest Pride march
Orban's ruling coalition amended laws and the constitution earlier this year to prohibit the annual celebration, advancing his widely condemned, years-long clampdown on LGBTQ rights in the name of "child protection". Last week, police banned the Pride march from taking place in Budapest, citing recent legal changes forbidding the promotion or display of homosexuality to under-18s. But organisers, including the Budapest city hall, disputed the legality of the decision and pledged the parade would go ahead. The ban has drawn international condemnation. "Of course, the police could break up such events, because they have the authority to do so, but Hungary is a civilised country, a civic society. We don't hurt each other," Orban told state radio during his weekly interview on Friday. "There will be legal consequences, but it cannot reach the level of physical abuse." Attendees risk a fine of up to 500 euros ($580) with police empowered to use facial recognition technology to identify them. Organisers could face a one-year prison sentence. 'Wider push' However, opposition Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony insisted during a briefing with visiting EU equalities commissioner Hadja Lahbib that no attendee can face any reprisals as the march is a municipal event and does not require police approval. "The police have only one task tomorrow, and it is a serious one: to ensure the safety of Hungarian and European citizens attending the event," Karacsony told journalists, warning that far-right actors could be emboldened by the government to disrupt the Pride march. Far-right groups have announced multiple counterprotests along the planned route of the procession. Dozens of EU lawmakers are expected to attend the Pride parade, as well as ministers and mayors from multiple European Union countries, according to the organisers. Lahbib said she is still assessing whether to participate given her role as commissioner, but assured the Hungarian LGBTQ community of the EU's support. "These attacks are part of a wider push to roll back progress and undo the rights that generations before us fought for," the Belgian commissioner told journalists. "The right to gather peacefully is one of those rights. It must be protected and upheld across the European Union," she added. Organisers hope Saturday's Pride march will see a record turnout of more than 35,000 to signal a strong rebuke of Orban's anti-LGBTQ policies. Hungary's nationalist premier on Friday rejected calls from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to reverse the ban, comparing her to late Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. "She considers Hungary a subordinate country and she thinks she can dictate to Hungarians from Brussels how they should live, what they should like, what they should dislike, what their legal system should be like, what should be banned and what should not be. Exactly like Brezhnev," Orban said.
