Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has strongly criticized this weekend’s Pride march in Budapest, labeling it “repulsive and shameful” and accusing the European Union of orchestrating the event through opposition politicians. His remarks, shared in a private online group for supporters, come amid growing political tension ahead of next year’s national election.
FILE PHOTO: People cross the Elisabeth Bridge during the Budapest Pride March in Budapest, Hungary, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo
According to Hungarian media reports on Sunday, Orban claimed that opposition parties, acting on instructions from Brussels, mobilized large numbers of attendees for the march, which evolved into one of the largest anti-government protests in recent years. An estimated 100,000 people defied a police ban and potential fines to participate in the demonstration.
People cross Elisabeth Bridge during the Budapest Pride March in Budapest, Hungary, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
“Since yesterday, we are even more certain that these people must not be allowed near the helm of government. And we will not allow them,” Orban reportedly told members of his “Fight Club” group, referring to the political opposition.
Reuters could not independently verify the content of Orban’s internal message cited by the media outlet Index. A government spokesperson declined to comment on the authenticity of the reports.
Mayor of Budapest Gergely Karacsony attends The Budapest Pride March in Budapest, Hungary, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner
While Orban presented no evidence for his claims, the event was organized by the municipality of Budapest, headed by opposition mayor Gergely Karácsony—whom Orban’s government has long accused of being aligned with the European Union.
Requests by Reuters for comments from Pride organizers and the city hall went unanswered. The European Commission also declined to respond to Orban’s remarks.
The Hungarian prime minister specifically condemned elements of the event, including a drag performance, men in high heels, and the distribution of materials on hormonal treatments. He pointed to these as reasons for the march’s prohibition, which had been issued under a law passed in March that allows such bans to “protect children.”
People attend The Budapest Pride March in Budapest, Hungary, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner
Opposition groups and human rights advocates argue that the law is part of a broader effort by Orban’s government to roll back democratic freedoms and marginalize LGBTQ+ communities. Critics say the restrictions are politically motivated, especially as Hungary gears up for a national election in 2026, where Orban faces a potentially strong challenger after 15 years in power.
On Friday, Orban also lashed out at European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who earlier urged Hungarian authorities to allow the Pride event to proceed. He accused her of treating Hungary as a subordinate state and likened her comments to “orders from Moscow” during the communist era.
A person wears a t-shirt with a picture depicting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on the day of The Budapest Pride March in Budapest, Hungary, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
Orban’s administration, which has embraced a Christian-conservative platform, has enacted a series of legal measures over the past decade that critics say erode LGBTQ+ rights. His government maintains that the primary objective of these policies is to safeguard children.
