The European Green Party has thanked the hundreds of thousands who they say made this year’s Budapest Pride
“such a successful demonstration for freedom, love, and equality.”
The event went ahead on Sunday despite attempts by the authorities to block it.
On Monday, Vula Tsetsi, Co-Chair of the European Green Party, said,
“Despite Viktor Orbån’s far-right government’s attempts to suppress the event, the Pride march stood as a proud testament to democratic resistance, in Hungary and across Europe.
“This year’s Budapest Pride became a beacon of hope. People from across Europe stood shoulder to shoulder with the Hungarian LGBTIQ community, showing that love, democracy and freedom are stronger than the hateful far right that tries to divide and silence us. The attacks on human rights in Hungary are not just a national issue – it is an attack on the core democratic values of all of Europe.
“The EU institutions have a clear responsibility to act decisively. Defending fundamental rights in one member state means defending them everywhere.”
Further comment came from Ciarán Cuffe, Co-Chair of the European Green Party, who added:
“We are immensely proud of Budapest’s Green Mayor, Gergely Karácsony, who showed courageous leadership by making Pride a municipal event and ensuring that the march could go ahead despite the efforts of the Orbán government to block it. This act of protection was critical, especially when Orbán authorised far-right counter-protests.”
Rasmus Nordqvist, EGP Committee Member, coordinator of the Green Queer Network, noted,:
“All together we made it very clear that attacks on freedom and constitutional rights are unacceptable. We thank everyone who marched, organised, or supported the event, both in Hungary and abroad. At a time when democratic freedoms are under pressure, today’s Pride was a powerful reminder that united action can overcome authoritarianism and hate.”
The European Green Party’s delegation to Budapest included over 200 people, among them elected officials and party leaders, such as Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz, Spanish Minister Ernest Urtasun, as well as over 20 Members of the European Parliament.
MEP Terry Reintke, Co-President of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, commented,
“This day was a great success for freedom and love in Europe.
“This day is a disaster for Viktor Orbán. The citizens of the free city of Budapest showed Viktor Orbán what they think of his Pride ban. It remains true: not the Pride is illegal, the ban is. We Greens/EFA will push for an infringement against the Pride-ban-law. The Commission also has to legally act to show that Hungarians have the same fundamental rights as all other EU citizens.
Gergely Karácsony is a hero. The fearlessness of Budapest’s mayor is a role model for thousands who are fighting for freedom, love and equal rights.”
Nicolae Ştefănuță, Vice-President of the European Parliament, agreed, saying, “This is not just about Budapest.
“This is about all of us, about what kind of Europe we choose to build and protect. Because when your peaceful expression is punished, when diversity is treated and looked upon as a danger we all lose something. That is why the European Parliament stands with Budapest. Because our Union is built on freedom, dignity and equal rights for everyone – no matter who you are or whom you love. You have the right to show up. You have the right to speak out. You have the right to live openly and proudly without fear.”
Green/EFA members present at the Budapest Pride were:
Terry Reintke, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Alexandra Geese, Alice Bah Kuhnke, Anna Strolenberg (Volt), Benedetta Scuderi, Daniel Freund, Gordan Bosanac, Jaume Llodra Asens, Kai Tegethoff (Volt), Kim van Sparrentak, Lena Schilling, Markéta Gregorová (Pirate Party), Mélissa Camara, Rasmus Andresen, Rasmus Nordqvist, Thomas Waitz, Tineke Strik, Tilly Metz.
