Hungarian Prime Minister Orban sought to make this year's Pride parade impossible with legal changes. However, the police ban appears to have had no effect – tens of thousands of people gathered in Budapest.
Tens of thousands of people joined a police-banned Pride parade in Budapest. Deak Square in the center was already filled with people, the news portal telex.hu reported, with many waving rainbow flags. The demonstration for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people is planned to cross a Danube bridge to the Buda side of the Hungarian capital.
This year's Pride march is marked by a power struggle between right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the liberal-governed capital, Budapest. The police, controlled by Orban's government, banned the event because they considered it a violation of the recently amended Assembly Act. This law allows for the banning of rallies if they violate"child protection."
Police could use facial recognition software
However, Budapest's liberal mayor, Gergely Karacsony, declared this year's Pride to be a city of Budapest event. Such an event is not subject to the Assembly Act, and cannot be banned on this basis—according to the position of the Budapest city administration and the Pride organizers.
It is expected that the police will report as many participants as possible to what they consider to be an illegal demonstration. Facial recognition software may be used in this process. Those reported face heavy fines.
Several counter-demonstrations announced
Pride organizers are calling it the largest Pride ever held in the Hungarian capital. They expect more than 50,000 participants. In Hungary, Pride participants dress much less conspicuously than in Germany, for example—no vinyl or leather outfits, little bare skin—but plenty of rainbow T-shirts and flags.
Around 70 MEPs, numerous diplomats and the EU Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, have also announced their participation in the move.
Four counter-demonstrations by right-wing extremist groups have also been registered for today. They announced their intention to block the route. Unlike Budapest Pride, they received permits for their demonstrations without any problems.
