Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony has been questioned by police as a suspect for allegedly facilitating a banned LGBTQ pride march that occurred on June 28. This event unfolded despite Hungary's ultra-nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government imposing a law in March forbidding such gatherings, purportedly under the guise of protecting minors from the promotion of homosexuality.
Despite the looming legal threats, the march attracted a remarkable turnout of around 200,000 participants, transforming into a significant anti-government demonstration. Sporting a rainbow T-shirt adorned with the city’s coat of arms, Karacsony made a strong statement at Hungary's National Bureau of Investigation on Friday, proclaiming: “Neither freedom nor love can be banned in Budapest.”
If charged and found guilty, Karacsony could face a maximum sentence of one year in prison for his role in organizing the march. Addressing a crowd of approximately 200 supporters and journalists post-questioning, he dismissed the allegations as groundless and signaled intentions to file a complaint against them.
Accompanied by his legal counsel, Karacsony refrained from divulging details to investigators, opting instead to submit a personal statement. This year's annual pride march faced uncertainty due to the Hungarian government's earlier legislative measures restricting public gatherings that were seen to promote homosexuality.
These legal maneuvers have marked a disturbing trend, as Orban's administration has systematically targeted Hungary's LGBTQ+ community, including the 2020 removal of legal recognition for transgender individuals and a law passed in 2021 criminalizing the representation of homosexuality to minors.
Despite the government’s attempts at intimidation, Mayor Karacsony boldly announced that the Budapest city hall would organize the pride march as a local event on June 28, arguing that police lacked lawful authority to outlaw a municipal function.
In a parallel development last month, police confirmed that they would not penalize attendees who could have been fined up to €500 ($586) for participating in the pride rally. Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation has initiated an inquiry into the alleged unlawful organization of the event, targeting an "unknown perpetrator."
This year’s Budapest Pride has displayed a significant resilience, attracting vast crowds and signaling a forceful message of solidarity against Orban’s legal restrictions.
