PM Orbán would like to incorporate Budapest Pride ban into the Constitution but with a trick
Of course, the general ban on Budapest Pride will not be directly written in the Fundamental Law of Hungary. But, according to the parliamentary group leader of Orbán’s Fidesz, having a supermajority in the Hungarian Parliament, it will be an indirect prohibition derived from the Constitution’s guarantee concerning the children’s “proper physical, mental and moral development”. Even so, it seems the Hungarian government will not be able to ban Budapest Pride because one of Hungary’s most famous events would allow it to be held within their programme provided it was prohibited from being held on Andrássy Avenue.
Budapest Pride problematised before
Budapest Pride has been an issue in Hungary for years because politicians, journalists, and influencers of PM Orbán’s Fidesz, advocating right-wing, conservative policies, have been slamming it for decades. Extremists, like members of far-right Mi Hazánk (Our Homeland), organise counter-protests and would like the ban of the event once and for all. It seems PM Orbán heard their demand.
In his State of the Nation speech on 27 February, PM Orbán advised the Pride organisers “not to bother preparing for this year’s parade”. When János Lázár, the Minister for Transport and Construction, slammed the so-called LGBTQ+ lobby and called for pushing it back and banning Pride, because it shocks society, Orbán expressed his agreement with that in a comment.
A new amendment to the Fundamental Law
It seems that before the 2026 general elections, when Péter Magyar and his Tisza Party have a real chance to beat Fidesz (he has been leading the polls for months), Orbán will generate a broad political debate on the issue. Since Fidesz has a supermajority in the Hungarian Parliament, they can accept any amendment to the country’s fundamental law they want.
Máté Kocsis, Fidesz’s parliamentary group leader, revealed a fragment of their Pride ban plan yesterday. In a Facebook post, he wrote that Article XVI will be supplemented:
“Every child shall have the right to the protection and care necessary for his or her proper physical, mental and moral development.
That right precedes all other fundamental rights except for the right to life.“
According to 444.hu, the following sentence can be put after the section saying that people are either men or women:
“Hungary shall protect the right of children to a self-identity corresponding to their sex at birth, and shall ensure an upbringing for them that is in accordance with the values based on the constitutional identity and Christian culture of our country.“
According to the media outlet, if the amendment passes, Hungary can become the first EU member state to introduce a general ban on Pride. In Europe, only Türkiye officially prohibited the event. But illegal festivals are held even there. Even Serbia could not ban it because the Supreme Court invalidated the parliament’s similar decision.
Sziget Festival can save Budapest Pride
However, despite all the efforts of the Orbán cabinet, it seems Pride will be held in Budapest despite the ban. Tamás Kádár, the CEO of Sziget Festival, said yesterday that they would receive the event provided the Hungarian Parliament prohibited the march on its “regular” route. Mr Kádár added that they had not coordinated with the event organisers.
After Orbán’s State of the Nation speech, Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony shared a post saying they were preparing for the 30th Budapest Pride and called the Orbán speech the first step of a smear campaign.
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