Power test in Hungary: thousands in Budapest to prohibited Pride parade

Thousands of people have joined a pride parade for the first time in Budapest. The deak-Platz in the center was already filled with humans, the news portal “Telex.hu” reported, many swiveled rainbow flags. According to the plans, the demonstration for the rights of lesbian, gays, bisexuals, trans- and queer people (LGBTQ) moves over a Danube bridge to the Buda side of the Hungarian capital.

This year’s Pride is characterized by a test of power between the right -wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the Liberal -ruled capital Budapest. The police, controlled by Orban’s people, prohibited the event because, in her opinion, it violates the recently amended meeting law. This now enables the ban on rallies if they are directed against “child protection”.

However, the Liberal Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacony had declared this year’s Pride to an event of the city of Budapest. This is not subject to the meeting law. On the basis of this, it cannot be banned, the point of view of the Budapest city administration and the pride organizers.

It is assumed that the police will display as many participants as possible of the illegal rally from their point of view. Face recognition software could also be used. The displayed threatens high fines.

However, tens of thousands of participants are expected to move. Around 70 MEPs, numerous diplomats and the EU Commissioner for Equal Opportunities, Hadja Lahbib have also been announced.