A Defiant Act Against Restrictive Legislation

A dozen Members of the European Parliament have announced their intention to travel to Budapest on June 28 to take part in the Pride March, despite a Hungary Moves to Ban Pride : A New Attack on LGBT+ Rights. This decision follows the adoption in March of a new law prohibiting the event. The move is seen as a direct challenge to the policies of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has been repeatedly criticized for undermining LGBTQ+ rights.

Political Mobilization and European Support

The controversial legislation has sparked strong reactions in Hungary, leading to massive protests. Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Equality, reminded the public that the right to peaceful assembly is a “fundamental right” within the European Union. She added, “Everyone should be free to be who they are, live and love freely.” During a debate in the European Parliament, several MEPs — including Mélissa Camara (Greens) and Fabienne Keller (Renew) from France — confirmed their attendance in Budapest. Other representatives from the Greens, Left, Renew, and Socialists & Democrats (S&D) groups, including S&D President Iratxe Garcia Perez, also expressed their intent to join.

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A Demonstration of European Solidarity

Hungarian socialist MP Csaba Molnar issued a call for mobilization in June: “Let’s show that Europe is not built on hatred, but on mutual respect.” Marc Angel, coordinator of the European Parliament’s LGBTIQ+ Intergroup — which includes about 100 MEPs from five political groups (EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens, and the Left) — told AFP he hopes for strong participation from MEPs in Budapest.

Increased Pressure on Hungary

The European People’s Party (EPP), which includes Péter Magyar — the main opponent of Viktor Orbán — has not yet confirmed whether its members will attend the event. Daniel Freund, a Green MEP and one of the confirmed attendees, has urged the European Commission to take tougher measures. He is calling for “a freeze on all EU funds until democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental freedoms are fully restored.” To date, several billion euros in EU funds earmarked for Hungary are already blocked by Brussels.