MEPs say they will take part in the Budapest Pride event in Budapest on 28 June as a sign of protest against Viktor Orbán.
The pledge came in a debate in parliament in Strasbourg on the Pride ban in Budapest.
The Greens/EFA Group called on the Council and the Commission “to not stand idly by while Hungary descends further into authoritarianism.”
Kim van Sparrentak,co-Chair of the LGBTIQ+ Integroup, said, “If banning a pride within the European Union is accepted by the European Commission, who knows what will be next.
“We need the Commission to take action and not allow Orban to clamp down further on freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. We will stand with our friends in Budapest and march with pride for Hungarian citizens and fundamental rights.”
More comment came from Daniel Freund, Greens/EFA Member of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Home Affairs and Justice.
The MEP commented,
“Viktor Orban and his cronies are stealing EU funds from Hungarian families and children. To distract from their stealing, they discriminate against fellow Hungarians for who they love and ban demonstrations. The Pride ban is another instance of the authoritarian Orban government attacking the queer community, minorities and marginalised groups for the sake of political posturing.
“The Commission and Council cannot continue to stand watch while an autocracy is created under their noses, where people’s rights are assaulted and civil society is silenced. European capitals cannot ignore the anti-democratic drive of the Orban regime any longer. It’s time for action, to protect democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law. We will defend the right to protest – see you in Budapest next weekend.”
The Advocate General of the European Court of Justice recently gave the opinion that Hungary’s 2021 anti-LGBTI law is incompatible with European values.
Some 20 Greens/EFA MEPs have now said they will be joining the Pride in Budapest.
Meanwhile, the Socialists and Democrats say they are
“committed in the defence of freedom, equality and dignity and for this reason they will travel to Budapest next week in support of the LGBTQ+ community.”
During the plenary debate on the freedom of assembly in Hungary, the S&D leader, Iratxe García, urged the European Commission to act
“against the continuous breaches of EU law carried out by the Orbán government and in defence of Hungarians rights.”
The MEP stated,
“The latest red line crossed by the Orbán government is not an isolated incident or an eccentricity: it is a European shame. The ban on the LGBTQ+ Pride March is the umpteenth manifestation of an authoritarian regime that has turned power into an instrument of fear, censorship, and hatred.
“Spying with facial recognition on those who defend human rights, fining those who exercise their freedom of assembly, manipulating the idea of ‘protecting children’ to impose an ideology of intolerance; it’s called repression.
“How many more red lines must be crossed before the Commission acts in defence of all Europeans and not as a hostage to an autocrat? How can the Commission claim to defend fundamental rights while withdrawing the Equal Treatment Directive?
“We need political coherence and I urge the European Commission to act and denounce the recent withdrawal of the Equal Treatment Directive. We need the Commission to request interim measures from the Court of Justice to suspend the scandalous Child Protection Act and apply Article 7 to protect European funds from Orbán’s abuses.
“Defending the rights of the LGBTQI+ community is defending freedom, equality, and human dignity. And, to our friends in Hungary, we say: You are not alone. We see you. We hear you. On 28 June, we will march with you in Budapest. Side by side. Proud and loud.
“We hope the European Commission will join us in Budapest on 28 June, it’s where the citizens need us.”
