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Members of the European Parliament engaged in a fierce debate about the government’s ban on the Budapest Pride event by the Viktor Orbán government.
MEPs argued that the move violates freedom of expression and called on the European Commission to act. Iratxe Garcia, the group leader of the Socialists and Democrats at the European Parliament, denounced the move and called for the EU to take a strong reaction.
“The last red line that the Orban government has crossed is not just an isolated fact, it’s not even just an oddity of a country, it’s an outright European shame. The banning of the Pride march is not just a cowardly attack against part of its people. It is yet another manifestation of an authoritarian regime, which has turned its power into the instrument of fear, of censorship, and hate,” Garcia said.
Other speakers from the left and liberal groups called for EU sanctions against Hungary, like the suspension of the country’s voting rights, with the so-called Article 7 process.
In March, the Hungarian Parliament approved a bill that in effect bans the gay pride march. As the legislation says, this event could violate the child protection law, adopted earlier in Hungary. The child protection law prohibits any portrayal of same sex relationships for minors. The European Commission sees this as a violation of the community law and referred the case to the European Court of Justice.
Conservative and far-right MEPs in the European Parliament defended Viktor Orbán’s move to ban pride events, saying the EU should not interfere in Hungary’s internal affairs. Kinga Gál, from the ruling Fidesz party of Hungary, said Brussels should respect Hungary’s laws.
“In Hungary, everyone can live and gather freely. But for us, the interest of the children and their physical and mental development is a priority. And everyone has to respect this,” – Gál said.
The Budapest Pride is planned for the 28th of June in the centre of Budapest. According to the new law, participants will also be monitored by AI camera systems and will be fined. Around 70 MEPs will travel to the Budapest Pride, but the European Commission will not send anyone.
Meanwhile, the opposition-led town of Budapest is trying to save the Pride march using a legal loophole. Mayor Gergely Karácsony announced that the city steps in as organiser, and in this case, police authorisation is not needed. The police disagree with this interpretation.
“There is still a legal battle going on over whether Pride can take place legally or not. The latest development is that the Budapest mayor has come forward and said that he is organising the Pride. Because he does not need police authorisation,” German MEP from the Greens, Daniel Freund, said.
The EU Commissioner for Justice, Michael McGrath, says they are still investigating the law and they are ready to use all tools to safeguard European values in this matter.
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