Budapest Pride Defies Government Ban Amid Political Showdown

In a direct challenge to Hungary’s sovereign laws, the capital city of Budapest staged its 30th annual Pride March despite a formal government prohibition. The move underscores a growing tension between the nationalist government led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and progressive local authorities aligned with international liberal agendas. The Hungarian government banned the event on grounds of protecting minors from exposure to non-traditional sexual orientations, warning participants of fines up to 200,000 forints (approximately $500). This is not mere bureaucratic red tape but an assertion of parental rights and cultural values that reflect the prevailing societal consensus in Hungary....