Orbán Accuses Brussels of Political Provocation Over Budapest Pride Parade
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán harshly responded to the recent Pride march in Budapest, describing it as «disgusting and shameful.» The mass event, which drew over 100,000 participants and escalated into large-scale protests against the government, has become a focal point for accusations directed at the European Union and local opposition figures. According to Orbán, Brussels allegedly instructed Hungarian opposition leaders to organize the parade, aiming to destabilize the political situation. In his speech, he emphasized that this incident confirms the necessity of preventing such events in the future, stating that «opposition politicians should not be allowed to govern.» Orbán also accused Budapest's mayor, Gergely Karácsony, of being a «puppet» of Brussels and labeled him complicit in promoting this controversial march. Tensions arose over the local authorities' decision to allow the parade despite bans and a law adopted in March that restricts such events under the pretext of protecting children. Critics argue that this ban is part of a broader effort to limit democratic freedoms ahead of the 2024 national elections. For over a decade, Orbán’s government has promoted a conservative, Christian-oriented agenda, which has resulted in tightened restrictions on the rights of the LGBT+ community. Polls indicate that Orbán's Fidesz party trails behind opposition leader Péter Mádyar's Tisa by approximately 15%. Mádyar, notably, has condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine and has provided humanitarian aid to Kyiv, especially after the destruction of the «OCHMATDIT» children's hospital in 2024.