Oradea, a western Romanian city, refuses for the fourth consecutive time to grant a permit for a Pride march. As Ark Oradea reported, city authorities again rejected the plan for the demonstration scheduled for this Saturday. With about 180,000 residents, Oradea remains the only major European city where the municipal government repeatedly blocks Pride events.
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According to Ark Oradea’s chair, Iulian Dițiu, organizers submitted more than 100 potential route options beforehand. The city administration rejected them on Wednesday, citing alleged overlaps with other events and construction work. In previous years, the administration had also dismissed the plans for technical or administrative reasons. A statement from the mayor, who belongs to a Christian-conservative party, is not available.
The organizers announced they would proceed with the demonstration on Saturday despite the lack of permission—under the motto “Oradea is for everyone.” Dițiu described the situation as both encouraging and disappointing.
Last year participants had to pay fines
Last year, between 500 and 600 people gathered for an unsanctioned march, resulting in fines for about nine participants totaling roughly €4,000. For this year’s demonstration, representatives from several diplomatic missions as well as the Romanian Ombudsperson for Human Rights have confirmed their attendance.
The case has drawn international criticism: more than 150 organizations from 30 countries urged Romanian authorities to uphold the EU-wide right to freedom of assembly. They warned that the systematic ban on Pride marches signals a rollback of democratic standards and the rule of law.
The European Union also chastises the Romanian authorities. Equality Commissioner Hadja Lahbib of Belgium and Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath of Ireland weighed in. In a social-media message, they stated: “People in Oradea should be able to demonstrate peacefully for their rights, just as in any other European city, and come together without fear.”
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A week earlier, the United Nations rights commissioner, Michael O’Flaherty, warned: “I am concerned about reports that the CSD Oradea 2026 is being blocked again in Romania. The right to freedom of assembly applies to everyone. Authorities should coordinate with organizers to provide a safe and appropriate route and protect participants.”
There have been earlier attempts in Poland and, more recently, in Hungary, to ban demonstrations for queer rights. The European Court of Human Rights had already ruled against Poland in 2007 for a CSD prohibition (TheColu.mn reported). This violated, among other things, the guaranteed freedom of assembly and the prohibition of discrimination under the European Convention on Human Rights. (dk)
