Budapest Mayor Faces Police Interrogation Over Defiance of Pride March Ban

Mon Aug 11 2025 09:08:34 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)
Budapest Mayor Faces Police Interrogation Over Defiance of Pride March Ban

Gergely Karacsony is questioned by police as he defends the right to celebrate LGBTQ rights in the face of governmental opposition.


In a significant turn of events, Budapest's mayor, Gergely Karacsony, has been interrogated by law enforcement as a suspect in the organisation of a controversial Pride march that contravenes government prohibitions.



Budapest's embattled Mayor, Gergely Karacsony, was questioned for over an hour by Hungary's National Bureau of Investigation, amid spiraling tensions over a recent LGBTQ Pride event that took place despite a government ban. The controversial march, held on June 28, attracted a remarkable 200,000 participants, swiftly transitioning from a celebration of love and identity to a vocal anti-government protest against Prime Minister Viktor Orban's administration.

Karacsony, who donned a rainbow T-shirt emblazoned with Budapest's coat of arms, adamantly stated, “Neither freedom nor love can be banned in Budapest,” while expressing his intent to challenge the police's accusations. He faces potential legal repercussions, which could see him imprisoned for up to a year if found guilty of organising and encouraging participation in the banned event.

Gathering outside the interrogation facility, approximately 200 supporters and journalists rallied behind him, underscoring a growing resistance against Orban's government and its draconian measures targeting the LGBTQ+ community. This recent inquiry adds to a series of discriminatory policies enacted by Orban's administration, including the abolishment of legal recognition for transgender individuals and laws that limit discussions of homosexuality in contexts accessible to minors.

Despite the ongoing investigation into the organisers of the rally, police previously declared that no legal action would be taken against the more than 200,000 individuals who attended the Pride march. As discussions surrounding LGBTQ rights in Hungary intensify, Mayor Karacsony remains steadfast in his commitment to advocate for equality, asserting, “If it cannot be banned, it cannot be punished," vowing to keep the spirit of Pride alive in the city.

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