Hungary's plan to prohibit Budapest Pride stirs up an escalating dispute between EU and Hungary
Unleashing Solidarity Across Europe: The Budapest Pride Saga
Politicians from all corners of the European Parliament voiced their disapproval and concern this week over Hungary's possible ban of the upcoming Budapest Pride event. This disagreement has sparked calls for EU intervention to preserve human rights and quash discrimination.
In March, the Hungarian Parliament sanctioned a bill that permits the prohibition of public LGBTQ+ events, citing "child protection" as the primary motive. This legislation empowers law enforcement to employ facial recognition technology to identify attendees. Hungarian Prime Minister, far-right nationalist Viktor Orban, previously warned Budapest Pride organizers to forget planning a 2025 event. Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony, a liberal adversary of Orban, has countered by attempting to arrange a Pride celebration on June 28th, dubbed a municipal event. Though this event aims to circumvent legal restrictions, Orban's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, stated that police would have the final say on the matter, according to Reuters news agency.
Pride Parade Anticipates Record Attendees
In response to this controversy, a cross-party contingent of European Parliament members has pledged to travel to Budapest this month as a gesture of solidarity. The specific individuals participating have yet to be revealed.
During a EU parliamentary debate in Strasbourg on Wednesday, Spanish Socialist lawmaker Iratxe Garcia Perez expressed support for Hungary's queer community. "We see you. We hear you, and the 28th of June, we will march with you in Budapest, side by side. Proud and loud," she declared. European People's Party representatives also denounced the recent developments in Hungary.
EU Officials Ready to Act
The potential Pride ban draws from a 2021 Hungarian law that restricts public displays or dissemination of so-called "LGBTI content" purportedly to protect child safety. This legislation has provoked widespread outrage across the EU and has been labeled as overtly homophobic by other member states.
The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against Budapest, which have not yet concluded at the European Court of Justice. In June, an advisor to the court’s ruling supported the Commission’s complaint. Hungary faces the prospect of hefty fines.
In the interim, the Commission has the option to petition for an emergency intervention from the ECJ that would suspend the 2021 law. Garcia was one of many advocating for this action. Fabienne Keller of the liberal Renew group encouraged the full utilization of Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union, which is meant to address serious and persistent breaches of EU values by member states.
Hungary has been under scrutiny for potential violations of EU rule of law since 2018, though the Commission has refrained from employing the so-called nuclear option and suspending Hungary’s voting rights on joint EU matters.
European Union Stands United
European Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath spoke about the ongoing infringement proceedings regarding the 2021 law and anticipated decisions from the ECJ in the coming months. The Commission is presently assessing the latest legal modifications.
"Our union is founded on freedom and equality. Everyone should be able to be who they are and live freely, love whom they choose," McGrath stated.
It is not the first time Hungary has faced criticism within the European Parliament. Orban, who embraces the label of an illiberal nationalist, has long been accused of undercutting essential democratic standards in Hungary through years of judiciary and press reforms.
Hungarian far-right lawmaker Kinga Gal, a member of the EU legislature from Orban's Fidesz party, characterized Wednesday's debate as part of a general witch hunt and hysteria against Hungary. "We will defend our children," she asserted.
Edited by: Sean Sinico
Background Information:
- European Parliament members from various political groups criticized Hungary's potential ban of the Budapest Pride event and called for EU intervention to uphold human rights.
- In March, Hungary passed a law that allows the prohibition of public LGBTQ+ events on "child protection" grounds and empowers police to use facial recognition technology.
- Budapest Pride organizers have faced criticism and warnings from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who stated that they should not organize a 2025 event.
- Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony countered by attempting to hold a Pride celebration on June 28 that, by being a municipal event, skirts legal restrictions.
- The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against Budapest and can ask the ECJ for an emergency intervention to suspend the 2021 law that restricts public displays or dissemination of LGBTI content allegedly for child protection.
- European Parliament members plan to travel to Budapest in support of the LGBTQ+ community. Renew group members have suggested invoking Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union to address Hungary's allegedly persistent breaches of EU values.
- The European Commission, in response to the potential ban of the Budapest Pride event in Hungary, has initiated infringement proceedings and has the option to petition for an emergency intervention from the European Court of Justice to suspend the 2021 law restricting public LGBTI content.
- In a show of solidarity, a cross-party contingent of European Parliament members has pledged to travel to Budapest to participate in the Pride event and stand alongside the Hungarian queer community.
- The news of Hungary's possible ban on the Budapest Pride event, as well as the controversy surrounding the 2021 law restricting public LGBTI content, has sparked widespread outrage across Europe and raised concerns about human rights and discrimination in the media.
