Thousands Join Budapest Pride March Following Orbán’s Election Defeat

BUDAPEST: More than 10,000 people took part in Budapest’s annual Pride march on Saturday, marking the first LGBTQ+ parade since the electoral defeat of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and signaling a shift in the country’s political climate after years of restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights.

Participants marched through the Hungarian capital carrying large rainbow and European Union flags despite record summer temperatures, describing the event as a celebration of greater freedom and renewed optimism under the country’s new government led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar.

During Orbán’s 16 years in power, his government introduced a series of measures restricting LGBTQ+ rights, including limits on legal gender recognition, same-sex adoption and LGBTQ+ content in schools. Last year’s Pride march, which authorities attempted to ban, evolved into a major anti-government demonstration.

This year’s march was officially authorized by police following the April parliamentary election, in which Magyar’s centre-right Tisza Party ended Orbán’s long tenure in office. While the new government has pledged a more inclusive approach, it has urged patience before introducing significant legislative reforms affecting LGBTQ+ rights.

Many participants expressed hope that Hungary is entering a more tolerant era. Marchers said the atmosphere was noticeably more relaxed than in previous years and reflected growing public acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, although activists stressed that substantial legal reforms are still needed to reverse restrictions introduced under the previous administration.

The annual Pride march has become an important symbol of civil liberties in Hungary, with this year’s turnout widely viewed as an indication of changing public sentiment following the country’s political transition.