Main points
- A massive anti-government protest took place in Budapest, with thousands of people demonstrating for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
- Viktor Orban's government has restricted LGBT+ rights and banned pride parades, sparking public outrage.
- Orban's opponents believe that the restrictions on LGBT+ rights are part of an attack on democracy ahead of the elections.
- The number of protesters reached 100 thousand, according to local publications.
LGBTQ+ Pride in Budapest / Photo Unsplash / William Fonteneau (illustrative)
Thousands of people took to the streets in Hungary's capital for an anti-government protest on Saturday, June 28. The event included students, families, and people from the provinces who had never attended a rally before.
This was reported by Channel 24, citing Reuters.
Large-scale protest in Budapest
Thousands of people filled the square outside Budapest City Hall waving rainbow flags, journalists reported. Participants say this is the last moment to stand up for their rights.
None of us are free until we are all free, read one of the posters.
The publication recalled that Viktor Orban's government has been gradually restricting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community over the past decade, and in March passed a law that allows for the banning of pride parades, citing the need to “protect children.” On the day of the event, he posted a photo with his grandchildren with the caption “this is what I'm proud of.”
Orban's opponents see the curtailment of LKBTK+ rights as part of a broader attack on democracy ahead of elections next year.
According to local media estimates, the number of participants reached 100,000 . Participants came from 30 countries, including 70 members of the European Parliament. More than 30 embassies expressed support, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on the Hungarian authorities to allow the parade to take place.
