Budapest Mayor Accused of Encouraging Defiance of Hungary’s Pride Ban

Hungarian prosecutors have moved to charge the progressive mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, months after hundreds of thousands of people responded to his call to protest the government’s ban on Pride events — a decision widely seen as an attempt to punish political dissent and intimidate opposition leaders.

The charges stem from the June Budapest Pride march, which took place despite new legislation backed by the ruling Fidesz party of right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The government justified the law by claiming it was necessary to protect children, a rationale that has been sharply criticized by Human Rights groups, legal experts, and EU institutions.

Under the new legislation, Hungarian authorities formally prohibited Budapest Pride — a move described by observers as unprecedented in the European Union’s recent history. In response, Karácsony moved quickly to bypass the ban by declaring the march a municipal event, removing the need for police authorization and directly challenging the government’s restrictions.

The strategy proved effective. The Pride march drew a record turnout, with participants traveling from across Hungary and beyond. Dozens of Members of the European Parliament, diplomats, and officials from across Europe joined the event, turning it into a powerful symbol of resistance against Orbán’s continued rollback of democratic norms and civil liberties.

On Wednesday, Hungarian prosecutors announced that Karácsony had “organised and led a public gathering despite a police ban,” adding that they would ask the court to impose a financial penalty through a summary judgment without a trial. Authorities did not disclose the size of the proposed fine.

The timing of the move is politically charged. The decision comes less than three months before parliamentary elections in which Orbán — long accused of weakening democratic institutions, curbing media freedom, and undermining the rule of law — faces an unusually strong challenge from Péter Magyar, a former senior member of Fidesz turned opposition figure.

Campaigners and political analysts argue that the government’s renewed focus on LGBTQ+ issues reflects a broader strategy to mobilize conservative voters as Orbán’s poll numbers slip. LGBTQ+ communities, they say, are increasingly being used as political scapegoats amid growing public dissatisfaction.

Karácsony, who has served as mayor of Budapest since 2019, responded swiftly to the prosecutors’ announcement. “I have gone from being a proud suspect to a proud defendant,” he wrote on social media. “Because it seems this is the price we pay in this country when we stand up for our own freedom and the freedom of others.”

A prominent opposition voice, Karácsony has repeatedly clashed with the Orbán government, including by displaying LGBTQ+ and Ukrainian flags on the city’s administration building. In his latest statement, he pledged to continue to “stand up for freedom in the face of selfish, petty, and despicable power.”

“Resistance is a duty,” he added, “when people who want to live, love, and be happy are betrayed by their own country — betrayed by their government.”

In the lead-up to the Pride march, government officials had warned that organisers could face up to one year in prison. Authorities also said they might deploy facial recognition technology to identify participants and issue fines of up to €500. However, police later announced they would not pursue action against the estimated 200,000 people who attended.

European political leaders have voiced concern over the case. Vula Tsetsi, co-chair of the European Green Party, said the prosecution raises fundamental questions for the European Union. “This is not just about Pride,” she said. “It is a test of whether the EU will stand up for democracy and fundamental rights.”

Her co-chair, Ciarán Cuffe, echoed those concerns, warning that the attempt to penalize Karácsony without a full trial highlights Hungary’s increasingly authoritarian direction under Orbán. “When a member state criminalizes peaceful assembly and democratically elected leadership,” he said, “European institutions cannot afford to look away.”