Budapest's Mayor Under Investigation as a Suspect in Connection to the Pride Parade
In a turn of events in Hungary, Gergely Karacsony, the environmentalist Mayor of Budapest, has been questioned by police over allegations that he helped organise the banned Budapest Pride march held on June 28, 2025. The event, which saw around 300,000 participants, was the largest Pride event in Hungary's history, despite the government's ban and threats of heavy fines.
Karacsony, a vocal advocate for democratic values and LGBTQ+ rights, publicly opposed the government's ban, stating that "neither freedom nor love can be banned in Budapest." His questioning by police is seen as part of the government's crackdown on opposition and civil rights activists.
The interrogation took place at the headquarters of Hungary's top investigative authority. During the questioning, Karacsony did not answer any questions posed by investigators. He contests the accusations levelled against him on legal grounds.
Before the march, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had warned organisers and attendees of "legal consequences." However, the police announced last month they would not take action against participants of the Pride parade.
The National Bureau of Investigation is investigating the organiser of the banned rally, but not the participants. If found guilty, Karacsony could spend up to a year in prison for organising and encouraging participation in a banned rally.
The Budapest Pride parade was co-organised by the city hall, with the argument that the police cannot legally ban a municipal event. The participation in the Pride parade was seen as a rebuke of Orbán's years-long clampdown on LGBTQ rights.
Karacsony, dressed in a T-shirt featuring the capital's coat of arms overlaid with rainbow colours, addressed a few hundred supporters outside, reiterating his stance on the importance of freedom and love in society. He also expressed his belief that the investigation into him is likely to be put to rest ahead of next year's election.
Gergely Karacsony, a prominent figure in Hungarian politics, has vowed to lodge a complaint against the accusations made against him, considering them unfounded. The investigation into the organiser of the banned rally continues.
- In the realm of Hungarian politics and general news, Gergely Karacsony's legal battle over allegations of organizing the banned Budapest Pride march, regardless of his support for environmental issues or advocacy of LGBTQ+ rights, is viewed as a significant test of civil rights and democratic values.
- Amidst the ongoing investigation into the organizer of the banned rally, the tension between the government's crackdown on opposition and civil rights activists, such as Gergely Karacsony, and the fight for freedom, love, and equality in society, remains a central narrative within the realms of Hungarian politics and crime and justice.
