Pride parade in Budapest: charges against mayor dropped

Following a ruling by the European Court of Justice in April, “the facts described in the indictment no longer constitute a criminal offense,” the public prosecutor’s office in the capital Budapest said on Thursday.

Pride parade in Budapest this year on June 27th

The government under the then right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had banned the demonstration last year, among other things, with reference to an anti-LGBTQ law from 2021. In 2025 the law was tightened. Under the Green Party mayor Karácsony, an opponent of Orbán, the demonstration was still held and, despite the ban, more than 200,000 people took part – more than in previous years.

Charges were therefore brought against Karácsony in January. In April, the European Court of Justice ruled that anti-LGBTQ laws violated EU fundamental freedoms.

The new conservative pro-European Prime Minister Peter Hungarianwho replaced Orbán in May after 16 years in office as head of government, has repeatedly spoken out in favor of equal rights and freedom of assembly.

However, he has not yet supported the Pride parade or taken steps to repeal anti-LGBTQ laws enacted by Orban. This year the parade is scheduled to take place on June 27th.