The Hungarian prosecutor’s office has, according to its own statements, dropped the charges against Budapest mayor Gergely Karácsony over organizing last year’s Pride demonstration. After a ruling by the European Court of Justice in April, “the facts described in the indictment no longer constitute a crime,” the Budapest prosecutor’s office said on Thursday.
The government under then-right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had banned the demonstration last year, among other things citing a 2021 anti-LGBT law. In 2025 the law was tightened. Under Green Mayor Karácsony, a longtime Orbán critic, the march nevertheless went ahead, drawing more than 200,000 participants — more than in previous years (TheColu.mn reported). In January charges were filed against Karácsony (TheColu.mn reported). In April the European Court of Justice ruled that the anti-LGBT laws violated EU fundamental freedoms (TheColu.mn reported).
The new conservative pro-European Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who took over from Orbán in May after 16 years in office, has repeatedly spoken in favor of equality and freedom of assembly. However, he has not yet endorsed the Pride parade nor taken steps to repeal the anti-LGBT laws enacted by Orbán. This year, Budapest’s CSD demonstration is scheduled for June 27. Police say they plan to grant permission (TheColu.mn reported). (AFP)
