For the first time since the regime change, opposition MPs banned from the Hungarian Parliament

Hungarian Parliament bans Budapest Pride LGBTQ march as opposition protests with smoke bombs.
Hungarian Parliament bans Budapest Pride LGBTQ march as opposition protests with smoke bombs. Photo: MTI

In a historic move, the Hungarian National Assembly has banned Members of Parliament from attending parliamentary sessions for the first time since the country’s regime change. The House voted to uphold sanctions imposed by Speaker László Kövér against five MPs from the Momentum party and independent MP Ákos Hadházy.

Opposition MPs have been stripped of their voting rights in Hungary

The sanctions resulted from a protest at the end of March, during which the MPs demonstrated against a legislative amendment tightening assembly rights, including provisions allowing the banning of Pride events under the so-called “child protection” law.

During the protest, opposition MPs used smoke grenades inside the parliamentary chamber, but loudspeakers and flyers were also used to disrupt the parliamentary session, prompting the Speaker to respond with suspension from sessions and cuts to their salaries. Please read our report about that day here, along with the details and a video.

The National Assembly voted on each case individually and approved the following penalties:

  • Ákos Hadházy: banned for 12 sitting days and stripped of six months’ salary – HUF 12 million (EUR 29,660)
  • Dávid Bedő: banned for 12 sitting days and stripped of six months’ salary – HUF 24 million (EUR 59,320)
  • Lajos Lőcsei: banned for 12 sitting days and stripped of six months’ salary – HUF 14.4 million (EUR 35,600)
  • Ferenc Gelencsér: banned for 6 sitting days and stripped of four months’ salary – HUF 9.6 million (EUR 23,700)
  • Éva Sebők: banned for 6 sitting days and stripped of four months’ salary – HUF 11.2 million (EUR 27,680)
  • Endre Tóth: banned for 6 sitting days and stripped of four months’ salary – HUF 11.2 million (EUR 27,680)

The bans will take effect starting from the next parliamentary session on Tuesday, meaning that the sanctioned MPs are unlikely to return before the beginning of the autumn session, Index writes.

The two-thirds majority (Fidesz-KDNP) led by PM Orbán did not stop at the law, but also incorporated it into the constitution, which the president signed without criticism on the same day. In response to the bridge occupations of recent weeks, the Hungarian police and the Supreme Court have taken tougher action against opposition protesters:

Protest in Hungary interrupted: police quickly stop anti-Orbán government demonstration

Momentum reaction

TO HISTORICAL BANISHMENT, HISTORICAL RESISTANCE IS THE ANSWER!

We are living in historic times. Today, something happened that has never happened in the 35 years of Hungarian democracy: representatives elected by the Hungarian people were banned from parliament by the Fidesz majority.

But the road that led to this point is also historic, as the Fidesz two-thirds majority is taking away the main achievement of the 1989 regime change, the law on assembly. The representatives of Momentum protested against this historic crime with extraordinary means: smoke candles, leaflets, and horns.

At times like this, it is not time for reflection and calculations, but for action! They wanted to make a decision that would affect the everyday lives of Hungarian people, violating and curtailing our fundamental rights. We have said many times that this issue is NOT about Pride. This issue is about whether we will silently tolerate Viktor Orbán leading Hungary down the path of Putin, which will end in a poor, oppressed country and withdrawal from the EU. We did not tolerate it silently, but took action and have been doing so continuously for a month and a half, together with thousands of Hungarian patriots. We resist!

We resist Fidesz’s draconian laws, we resist the lies, we resist the propaganda, and we resist the bans. No amount of fines, no amount of police coercion, no parliamentary decision can silence us. And not only us, but also the angry but freedom-loving people with whom we have been fighting side by side for a month and a half on bridges, at the Parliament and in the public media.

They can ban us, but they cannot ban the truth! They should be afraid, because we have nothing left to fear! We have nowhere to retreat! We will not retreat from being banned! Long live Hungarian freedom! Let’s meet on 1 May at 3 PM at Kossuth Square and stand together against Putin’s path and for a European Hungary!

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