Budapest Unites: Thousands Protest Law Threatening Pride March

In Budapest, a significant protest erupted against a new law that aims to ban the annual Pride march and implements facial recognition for identifying participants. The law, passed by Hungary's parliament, has faced criticism for potentially suppressing protests and infringing on rights to assembly, reflecting growing tensions under Prime Minister Orban.

In Budapest, thousands gathered on Tuesday to protest against a newly passed law that seeks to ban the annual Pride march by LGBTQ+ communities and enables the use of facial recognition technology to identify those involved. The controversial law was pushed through by lawmakers from the ruling Fidesz party, under claims it protects children.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose government faces growing opposition ahead of the 2026 elections, has recently stepped up his rhetoric against the LGBTQ+ community, aiming to cut foreign funding for independent media and NGOs in Hungary as part of his campaign to solidify his conservative agenda.

Activists and opposition party members criticized the legislation, seeing it as a broader attempt to quash civil assembly. Akos Hadhazy, a protest organizer, condemned the law for jeopardizing future protests. Around 2,000 demonstrators, including members of the Momentum party, clashed with the government's narrative, voicing their dissent by blocking bridges and lighting smoke flares.

(With inputs from agencies.)