Hungarian prosecutors charge Budapest mayor for arranging LGBTQ+ parade

Hungarian prosecutors have charged Budapest’s liberal mayor, Gergely Karácsony, over his role in organising the June LGBTQ+ pride march, which escalated into an anti-government protest, a statement from the Hungarian prosecutor’s office said.

Prosecutors are seeking to impose a fine on Karácsony without a court hearing, Caliber.Az reports, citing Western media.

The mayor attempted to bypass the ban on holding the pride event by organising it as a municipal activity, which he said did not require official permission. Despite this, the police officially prohibited the event, citing the child protection law. The march ultimately took place peacefully.

Critics of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán say the authorities’ actions are part of a broader campaign to curb LGBTQ+ rights and democratic freedoms ahead of upcoming elections. In recent years, Orbán’s government has enacted laws restricting LGBTQ+ rights, including legislation allowing the banning of pride events under the justification of protecting children.

Tens of thousands of protesters marched through Budapest last June despite a police ban, turning the Pride march into one of the biggest anti-government demonstrations in years against nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

By Khagan Isayev