Budapest’s Mayor, Gergely Karacsony, confronted police during an investigation into his involvement in organizing a banned LGBTQ pride march held on June 28. The event attracted a record crowd of 200,000 attendees, asserting their defiance in the face of government warnings.
Budapest Mayor Faces Police Inquiry Over Defiant Pride March
Budapest Mayor Faces Police Inquiry Over Defiant Pride March
Budapest's mayor Gergely Karacsony has been interrogated as a suspect in organizing a banned LGBTQ event, highlighting ongoing tensions with the nationalist government.
Karacsony, clad in a rainbow shirt embodying the city's coat of arms, visited Hungary's National Bureau of Investigation after being categorized as a suspect. He has expressed his commitment to the LGBTQ community, stating, "Neither freedom nor love can be banned in Budapest" while addressing supporters gathered outside after the questioning.
This pride march incident follows the Hungarian government’s earlier legislation prohibiting events that allegedly infringe on child protection laws related to homosexuality, further intensifying tensions between the Prime Minister Viktor Orban's administration and the LGBTQ community.
Despite facing potential legal repercussions of up to a year in prison for his involvement, Karacsony categorically denied the accusations against him and emphasized his intention to file a complaint regarding the investigation. At last month’s event, law enforcement had previously announced it would not penalize attendees, despite imposing potential fines for participation.
The pride march has become a significant platform for asserting LGBTQ rights in Hungary, particularly in a climate where government measures have increasingly restricted such expressions of identity and freedom. The National Bureau of Investigation is currently probing an “unknown perpetrator” linked to organizing the rally, keeping the issue at the forefront of Hungary's socio-political tensions.
This pride march incident follows the Hungarian government’s earlier legislation prohibiting events that allegedly infringe on child protection laws related to homosexuality, further intensifying tensions between the Prime Minister Viktor Orban's administration and the LGBTQ community.
Despite facing potential legal repercussions of up to a year in prison for his involvement, Karacsony categorically denied the accusations against him and emphasized his intention to file a complaint regarding the investigation. At last month’s event, law enforcement had previously announced it would not penalize attendees, despite imposing potential fines for participation.
The pride march has become a significant platform for asserting LGBTQ rights in Hungary, particularly in a climate where government measures have increasingly restricted such expressions of identity and freedom. The National Bureau of Investigation is currently probing an “unknown perpetrator” linked to organizing the rally, keeping the issue at the forefront of Hungary's socio-political tensions.
