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A Budapest Pride march is expected to go ahead on Saturday, defying Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s legal threats against LGBTQ rights activists.<\/p>\n
The march organisers hope for a record attendance this year, despite mounting pressure from nationalist conservative politicians and police to stop any display of pro-LGBTQ material.<\/p>\n
Police have issued a ban, in line with a new “child protection” law that restricts gatherings considered to be promoting homosexuality.<\/p>\n
A day before the Pride, Mr Orban downplayed the possibility of violent clashes between the police and participants – but warned those who go to face the possible legal repercussions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
“Of course, the police could break up such events, because they have the authority to do so, but Hungary is a civilised country, a civic society. We don’t hurt each other,” Mr Orban told state radio on Friday.<\/p>\n
“There will be legal consequences, but it cannot reach the level of physical abuse.”<\/p>\n
Attendees risk a fine of up to \u20ac500 (\u00a3427; $586), with police empowered to use facial recognition technology to identify them.<\/p>\n
Organisers could face a one-year prison sentence.<\/p>\n
EU equalities commissioner Hadja Lahbib, a former Belgian foreign minister, is in Budapest and expected to join the march, along with dozens of MEPs. <\/p>\n
On Friday, Ms Lahbib posted a picture showing her standing with the liberal Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony in front of a rainbow flag symbolising gay rights.<\/p>\n
The Pride march “will be a powerful symbol of the strength of the civil society,” she wrote on X.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the Pride, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asked the Orban government not to block the march.<\/p>\n
Mr Orban was unfazed, asking her “to refrain from interfering in the law enforcement affairs” of EU member countries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n