Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony marked the occasion with an international news conference at City Hall on Friday, attended by senior European Union officials. In his opening remarks, Mayor Karácsony emphasised the importance of the huge media attendance, stating that it demonstrates serious worries about Hungary’s democratic situation.
According to the mayor, “Hungary has become a laboratory for dismantling democracy over the past 15 years,” and the attempted ban on Pride was the result of that trajectory. He underlined that the current law prohibitions put in place in the spring do not apply to Saturday’s Pride march because it is a municipal event.
Karácsony praised the impressive display of worldwide solidarity, noting that mayors and delegates from around 30 nations were in attendance.
In response to enquiries concerning alleged far-right counter-demonstrations by the 64 Counties Youth Movement and the Our Homeland Movement, both of which have allegedly been granted police permits, Mayor Karácsony said he would personally guarantee that no retaliation would be taken against Budapest Pride participants.
He emphasised that allowing far-right parties to demonstrate against the rights of others, while also allowing freedom of assembly to be violated at a municipal event, would be a bad reflection on Hungary. “I am confident that such counter-demonstrations will not be allowed,” he said, adding that police had handled such circumstances appropriately in prior years.
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