Hungarian protesters stand against growing restrictions on the right of assembly and the Pride March in Budapest!
On Tuesday evening, a protest was held in Budapest against the government’s ban on the Budapest Pride March. The demonstration was organised by independent MP Ákos Hadházy after the police prohibited this year’s regular Pride event. Protesters marched across Elisabeth Bridge, forming a live chain and delivering speeches to oppose the curtailment of LGBTQ rights and the government’s hateful rhetoric. Participants stood up for the protection of fundamental human rights, particularly the freedoms of expression and assembly.
One of the main drivers of the protest was the recently adopted tightening of the law on assembly. The new legislation prohibits any event that “promotes homosexuality” or displays gender reassignment. Although the wording of the law is general, it is clearly intended to ban Pride events at the end of June.
Those found in violation of the new rules could face fines of up to HUF 200,000 (approximately EUR 500), and authorities may also use facial recognition systems to identify participants. This could also apply to foreign nationals, making it important to be aware of the changing legal landscape.
The original plan for the protest
Although Ákos Hadházy MP and his fellow organisers had intended to close the bridge from 17:00 on Tuesday until 22:00 on Wednesday, the police and the court ruled this was not permissible due to traffic concerns. According to the judgment, the obstruction of traffic is only acceptable if it is not the purpose of the rally, but merely a consequence.
The police secured the site from 16:00 until 04:00, which also included time for setting up and dismantling the stage. Hadházy stated that, although he considered the reasoning absurd, he was not surprised by the decision and instead preferred to emphasise the importance of participation.
Students, politcians and rural support
According to Telex, the demonstration was joined by students who gathered at Mikszáth Kálmán Square in the afternoon and then marched to Free Press Road to join the main protest. The organisers stated their aim was to provide a platform for young people and to show that there is hope for change. The students chanted slogans such as “Students, we will not be silent” and “Whoever honks is with us”. During the march, they tried not to block traffic completely, but did obstruct roads en route to Museum Boulevard and Deák Ferenc Square.
Several well-known public figures also spoke at the protest. Speakers included actors Róbert Koltai and Krisztina Szalay, publicist Róbert Puzsér, and energy policy expert Attila Holoda. Several opposition politicians were also present, including representatives from DK, MSZP, and Momentum. Momentum attracted attention with a striking action: they marched to the bridge with purple smoke flares and a banner, emphasising that the right of assembly is a fundamental value.
The demonstration was not limited to Budapest; hundreds also gathered in Miskolc’s Erzsébet Square. Organised by the civil movement aHang, the event aimed to express solidarity with the protest taking place in the capital. Speakers in Miskolc echoed calls for active resistance over passivity, stressing that the increasingly restrictive laws on public assembly reflect the ruling power’s growing unease.
Tensions, counter-protesters, political reactions
The demonstration did not pass without tensions. In some areas, counter-protesters appeared and complained about being unable to move around. In addition, the live broadcast of Hír TV was disrupted, as protesters chanted “The TV is lying” and made it difficult for the reporter to speak.
A video of a young girl has been circulating online since the protest. It shows police officers attempting to lead the demonstrator off Liberty Bridge, at which point one of the officers is “punched” by the girl.
According to Blikk, after clarification with the police, the authorities decided not to prosecute Petra for assaulting a public official, as the collision was deemed accidental. However, a misdemeanour case was filed against her for occupying public space on Liberty Bridge, which had been prohibited. The young girl admitted to her actions and stated that she had no intention of harming the officer.
There was no shortage of pro-government reactions. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spoke of the need to protect the rights of “non-demonstrators” and called for a new law to make it impossible for demonstrations to obstruct traffic. Tamás Menczer, Fidesz’s communications director, described protests related to Pride and LGBTQ rights as “lunacy”.
The organiser of the demonstration, Ákos Hadházy,took to the stage later in the evening and remarked that, although the police were not inclined to do them any favours, they inadvertently did so by handing over the venue late—demonstrating the determination of the participants.
In his speech, he noted that some may find it tiresome to occupy the bridge for the fourth time, but emphasised that repetition is not a sign of weakness, but of perseverance. He stressed that the aim was not to occupy bridges for their own sake, but to give more people the opportunity to express themselves.
Read also:
- Staff at Hungary’s largest university stand up for freedom of assembly and LGBTQI people
- “No room for discrimination”: EU slams Hungary’s LGBTQ law
Thousands of young men are being killed in Ukraine going on 4 years. Orban represents the only country in the EU the has stood up denanding an end to the killing while the EU is spending Trillion dollars to keep it going and put boots on the ground. The left in the US -EU-NATO are responsible.
News Flash – The US – where all the LGBTBS started is changing pride month to honor veterans killed for the whole month those killed in all conflicts across the world.
The brilliance of LGBTBS for Hamas – shows you how far up their A- hole it is.
Major riots in UK, France and Germany.
I fear for all of Europe with little hope.
These people dont understand if they think hamas or any muslim would support them they are nuts. Muslims hate lgbtq so much they kill them.
Victor Mihaly. Orban – from the commencement of this war – the invasion by Russia on the Ukraine, the “gofer” role Orban and his Fidesz Government then were playing to Putins Russia.
Orban / Hungary – the “one off” – member of the European Union, there participation of “veiling” not being transparent of TRUTH, taking the position they maintain under the leadership of Orban, that represents that the Ukraine needs to capitulate – give land territory to Russia – to bring about the end of this Russian War on the Ukraine.
Orbans first meeting with Putin in the first (9) nine months of Russia’s “invasion” of the Ukraine, the Prime Minister of Hungary – Victor Mihaly. Orban “mouthed off” the terms of Putin’s – to bring about an end, to Russia’s war – there invasion of the Ukraine.
Orban, the “gofer” of Putin, his message was, having been HUMILIATED by Putin at his meeting, the message from Putin was that of surrender the capitulating to the Russian war machine and the “signing over” at that time, the lands of the Ukraine occupied by the Russian War Machine.
Orban came out of the Kremlin meeting with Putin with his BIG FACE between his knees – given a “dressing” down by Putin, and sent on his way – being TOLD by Putin, as my “gofer” this is the role, for “Mother Russia” you un-equivocally are to PLAY.
Years pass and STILL – the Orban “order” out of the Kremlin dominates the “veiled” position – the ideas of Orban to bring an end, to bring PEACE to this Russian war on the Ukraine.
Orbans position in the voting of the European Union – we KNOW – he is the “Judas” – as he is NOW quite openly talked of, in Europe, the European Union and Globally in countrys Governed under DEMOCRACY – being referred to as the “Judas” of DEMOCRACY.
Orban – had commenced prior to the Russian War on the Ukraine the DISTILLATION of DEMOCRACY in Hungary.
Orban has continued on in his agenda to SMASH remove DEMOCRACY from being the Governance Politically of Hungary, by returning Hungary, which he and his “Heinous” Fidesz Government have suceeded in doing, largely in line or returned to what Hungary from 1945-1989 was represented by, that being Communist country, under a Dictatorship controlled and GOVERNED from Moscow, Russia.
Orban – has OBLIVIATED any FRIENDSHIPS Hungary had with countrys GLOBALLY of DEMOCRACY.
Orban leads a country Hungary, in a cataclysmic Financial & Economic MESS.
Hungary’s Government – are DEBT ridden from large Government Debt Borrowings and in Millions of Euros through FINES issued on Hungary, by the European Union that muchly are centered on bought about by Victor Mihaly. Orbans CONTINUOUS opposition to the European Union through Hungary’s non-compliance to the Rules, the Laws of being a member country of the European Union.
Victor Mihaly. Orban – in the (16) sixteen years of his Prime Ministership of Hungary, his Fidesz Government, have DELIVERED Hungary to be a country, that WORSENS daily, an “ageing” decreasing population, that is in an “abyss” of a new DARK age.
Orban, his Fidesz Government have betrayed us the citizens of Hungary.
Orban, his Fidesz Government have ABUSED us, they have HUMILIATED the name of our country – Hungary, they have obliviated any Respect or Trust in the name of our country Hungary especially GLOBALLY in country’s that are DEMOCRATIC, that are GOVERNED under DEMOCRACY.
Orban and his Fidesz Government must be BOUGHT Down.
Good gosh, man, don’t you have anything to do?!? Give us a TL;DR version, at least!
Why would protestors not demand proper public behavior or just that these people clean up after their debauchery?
If the lgbtq+ want there rallies so much take it to the middle of the country where no one lives and march all you want. Do it in the city employers need to take note and fire them.
These “protesters” and especially their organizers show what they’re all about.
When the E.U. withholds billions of dollars of OUR OWN MONEY because we don’t want to accept being invaded by hundreds of thousands of violent third-world parasites (who, by the way, despise the LGBT4kTVBS), you get crickets from these losers. Indeed, now they turn up and out, many waving with E.U. flags.
Fact is, “gay pride” was once about acceptance. Then it became about tolerance. They have all the rights as everyone else, plus, nobody cares if they’re gay, bi, nothing, anything, everything. So now, in 2025, the only reason to march is to assert dominance.
Not gon’ happen!