Latest news with #Orban
France 24
29 minutes ago
- Politics
- France 24
Budapest Pride to challenge Orban's ban in Hungary
Organisers expect a record turnout for the 30th edition of the Pride march in the Hungarian capital despite a police ban imposed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's nationalist government. Akos Horvath, an 18-year-old student who came to Budapest from a city in southern Hungary, said it was "of symbolic importance to come". "It's not just about representing gay people, but about standing up for the rights of the Hungarian people," he told AFP on his way to the march after travelling for two hours. Orban's governing coalition amended laws and the constitution this year to prohibit the annual celebration, justifying his years-long clampdown on LGBTQ rights on "child protection" grounds. Orban said Friday that while police would not "break up" the Pride march, those who took part should be aware of "legal consequences". Newly installed cameras Parade organisers risk up to a year in prison, and attendees can face fines up to 500 euros ($590). The latest legal changes also empower the authorities to use facial-recognition technology to identify those who take part. Newly installed cameras have appeared on lamp posts along the planned route of the march. Despite the risk of fines, more than 35,000 people are expected to gather near Budapest's city hall for a march beginning at 3:00 pm (1300 GMT). "Freedom and love can't be banned," read one huge poster put up near the city hall. Ministers from several EU countries and dozens of European lawmakers are expected to attend in defiance of the ban. Earlier this week, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called on the Hungarian authorities to reverse the ban. Thirty-three countries, including most EU countries, have also released a statement in support of the march. At a press conference Saturday, several French MEPs called on the EU to take tougher measures against Orban's government over the crackdown on civil rights and other rule of law issues. Budapest's opposition mayor Gergely Karacsony has insisted that no attendee could face any reprisals as the march is a municipal event that does not require police approval. "The police have only one task... and it is a serious one: to ensure the safety of Hungarian and European citizens attending the event," Karacsony said during a briefing with visiting EU equalities commissioner Hadja Lahbib on Friday. Far-right groups meanwhile have announced multiple counterprotests along the planned parade route, putting up a wooden cross adorned with protest messages. A woman who gave only her first name, Katalin, told AFP she agreed with the ban though she hoped there would be no clashes. "Disgusting... it's become a fad to show off ourselves," she said. 'Polarising society' Justice Minister Bence Tuzson sent a letter to EU embassies this week cautioning diplomats and staff against participating because of the police ban. Several EU countries have informed their citizens of the potential of fines through travel advisories. Since Orban's return to power in 2010, the country of 9.6 million people has been steadily rolling back LGBTQ rights. But it is the first move to ban the Pride ban, as Orban says he has been emboldened by the anti-diversity push by US President Donald Trump. "Orban is employing a tried-and-tested recipe ahead of next year's election by generating a conflict," political analyst Daniel Mikecz told AFP, saying that Orban was "polarising society".
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Hungary Pride goes forward despite threat from repressive law
BUDAPEST — With the support of Budapest's liberal mayor, Hungary's LGBTQ+ community and supporters from Brussels and around the world were poised to hold Pride festivities this weekend, challenging an effort to ban the event by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a self-declared 'illiberal' Christian conservative whose Fidesz party pushed through draconian legislation in March banning public events that portray or allegedly promote homosexuality.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Tens of thousands to march in Hungarian capital in defiance of Pride ban
Tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ rights supporters are expected to converge on Budapest this Saturday, poised to defy a police ban on their annual Pride march. The event has become a potent symbol of the escalating struggle between Hungary's nationalist government and its civil society, highlighting a decade of tightening restrictions on fundamental freedoms. Under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Hungary has systematically curtailed the rights of its LGBTQ+ community. A controversial law passed in March further empowered authorities to ban Pride events, ostensibly to "protect children" – a justification widely seen by critics as a pretext for a broader assault on democratic liberties. The crackdown is unfolding ahead of a crucial general election next year, where Mr Orban faces a formidable opposition challenge. Opponents view the government's actions against the LGBTQ+ community as part of a wider erosion of democratic norms, with the Pride march serving as a focal point for resistance. Organisers anticipate a massive turnout, with participants travelling from 30 different countries to show solidarity. Among the attendees expected are European Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib and approximately 70 members of the European Parliament. More than 30 embassies have expressed support for the march and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on Hungarian authorities to let the parade go ahead. Seventy Hungarian civil society groups, including the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Transparency International Hungary and the Hungarian Helsinki Commission, published an open letter on Friday in support of the march, saying the law that led to the police ban "serves to intimidate the entire society". Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony tried to circumvent the law by organising the march as a municipal event, which he said does not need a permit. Police however banned the event, arguing that it fell under the scope of the child protection law. Mr Orbán, whose government promotes a Christian-conservative agenda, provided some clues on Friday about what participants can expect when he warned of "legal consequences" for organising and attending the march. Earlier this week Justice Minister Bence Tuzson warned in a letter sent to some foreign embassies in Budapest that organising a prohibited event is punishable by one year in jail, while attending counts as a misdemeanour. The law that allows for the ban of Pride lets police impose fines and use facial recognition cameras to identify people who attend. When asked about the threat of a one-year jail term, Mr Karacsony said at a press briefing on Friday that such a sentence would only boost his popularity. "But I cannot take it seriously," he said. Making the march a key topic of political discourse has allowed the Orbán government to take the initiative back from the opposition and mobilise its voter base, said Zoltan Novak, an analyst at the Centre for Fair Political Analysis think tank. "In the past 15 years, Fidesz decided what topics dominated the political world," he said, noting that this has become more difficult as Mr Orbán's party has faced an increasing challenge from centre-right opposition leader Peter Magyar's Tisza party, which has a 15-point lead over Mr Orbán's Fidesz in a recent poll. Tisza, which has been avoiding taking a strong position on gay rights issues, did not specify in response to questions whether it believed the Pride march was lawful, but said those attending deserved the state's protection. "Peter Magyar has called on the Hungarian authorities and police to protect the Hungarian people this Saturday, and on other days as well, even if it means standing up against the arbitrariness of power," its press office said. Mr Magyar himself would not attend.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Record crowds expected at Budapest Pride march in defiance of Orban's ban
Record-breaking numbers of revellers are expected to turn out on the streets of Budapest on Saturday in defiance of a new law by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling coalition that bans Hungary's annual Pride celebrations. A record number of people are expected to attend Saturday's Pride march in the Hungarian capital Budapest, defying a ban that marks an unprecedented regression of LGBTQ rights in the European Union. Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling coalition amended laws and the constitution earlier this year to prohibit the annual celebration, justifying his years-long clampdown on LGBTQ rights on "child protection" grounds. While Orban has been emboldened by the anti-diversity offensive of US President Donald Trump, his own initiatives have drawn protests at home and condemnation from the EU and rights groups. The nationalist leader on Friday said that while police would not "break up" the 30th edition of the Pride march, those who took part should be aware of "legal consequences". Despite the risk of a fine, more than 35,000 people are expected to gather at 2:00 pm (1200 GMT) near Budapest's city hall, an hour before the march begins. Thirty-three countries have also spoken up in support of the march. Freshly installed cameras have appeared on lamp posts along the planned route of the march. Read more on FRANCE 24 EnglishRead also:Hungary tells EU ambassadors not to attend Pride parade banned by policeBudapest mayor says Pride march will go ahead despite police ban
France 24
6 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
Record crowds expected at Budapest Pride march in defiance of Orban's ban
A record number of people are expected to attend Saturday's Pride march in the Hungarian capital Budapest, defying a ban that marks an unprecedented regression of LGBTQ rights in the European Union. Prime Minister Viktor Orban 's ruling coalition amended laws and the constitution earlier this year to prohibit the annual celebration, justifying his years-long clampdown on LGBTQ rights on "child protection" grounds. While Orban has been emboldened by the anti-diversity offensive of US President Donald Trump, his own initiatives have drawn protests at home and condemnation from the EU and rights groups. The nationalist leader on Friday said that while police would not "break up" the 30th edition of the Pride march, those who took part should be aware of "legal consequences". Despite the risk of a fine, more than 35,000 people are expected to gather at 2:00 pm (1200 GMT) near Budapest's city hall, an hour before the march begins. Ministers from several EU countries, and dozens of European lawmakers are expected to attend in defiance of the ban, reminiscent of that in Moscow in 2006 and Istanbul in 2015. "We're not just standing up for ourselves... If this law isn't overturned, eastern Europe could face a wave of similar measures," Pride organiser Viktoria Radvanyi said. Freshly installed cameras Earlier this week, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called on the Hungarian authorities to reverse the ban. Thirty-three countries have also spoken up in support of the march. While parade organisers risk up to a year in prison, attendees can face fines up to 500 euros ($580). The latest legal changes empower the authorities to use facial-recognition technology to identify those who take part. Freshly installed cameras have appeared on lamp posts along the planned route of the march. However, opposition Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony has insisted that no attendee can face any reprisals as the march -- co-organised by the city hall this time -- 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 said during a briefing with visiting EU equalities commissioner Hadja Lahbib. Far-right groups have announced multiple counterprotests along the planned route of the procession. Justice Minister Bence Tuzson this week sent a letter to EU embassies cautioning diplomats and staff against participating because of the police ban.
