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.
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