Budapest Mayor Under Investigation Over Pride Support

Police Summons Linked to Support for LGBTQ+ Pride March

Green Party Mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karacsony, has been summoned by Hungarian police as a suspect following his decision to move forward with the planned LGBTQ+ Pride Parade on June 28, 2025, despite a national ban. His office confirmed the summons to AFP. The investigation follows his authorization of the parade in defiance of tighter national restrictions enacted by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government, outlawing public demonstrations promoting LGBTQ+ identities. In response, Karacsony stated on Facebook: “I’m now considered a suspect. If this is the cost of defending freedom in this country, I wear it with pride.”

Mass Participation Despite Legal Threats

Despite the legal risks, organizers reported that over 200,000 people took part in the Pride march—marking a record turnout. The event unfolded amid intensifying tensions surrounding LGBTQ+ rights in Hungary, a situation that the European Commission has denounced as a concerning rollback of civil liberties. In March, a new law came into force, criminalizing any public event that might “expose” minors to themes of homosexuality or gender identity, under the guise of protecting children.

Legal Loophole: City-Classified Event

The police initially banned the parade, citing the newly enacted law and warning that participation or promotion could result in up to one year behind bars. However, Mayor Karacsony countered that the march qualified as a “municipal event,” and thus fell outside the scope of the national restrictions. While participants technically risked fines of up to 500 euros, law enforcement ultimately chose not to pursue charges, citing “legal ambiguity.” According to police statements in early July, “Participants may have believed their attendance did not violate existing rules.”

Orbán Labels Parade as Agenda from Brussels

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán condemned the Pride event as a “disgrace,” warning of potential legal consequences. He accused opposition leaders of acting “under Brussels’ orders,” suggesting that the march was a calculated attempt to challenge Hungarian sovereignty. The government framed the event as an imposition of foreign “woke” ideology, facilitated by external political influence.

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