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European lawmakers engaged in a fierce debate on Wednesday, sparked by the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government’s recent ban on the Budapest Pride event.
MEPs argued that the move infringes upon freedom of expression and called on the European Commission to take action. Iratxe Garcia, the group leader of the Socialists and Democrats at the European Parliament, denounced the move and called for the EU to take a strong reaction.
“The last red line that the Orban government has crossed is not just an isolated fact, it’s not even just an oddity of a country, it’s an outright European shame,” Garcia said.
“The banning of the Pride march is not just a cowardly attack against part of its people. It is yet another manifestation of an authoritarian regime, which has turned its power into the instrument of fear, of censorship, and hate,” she added.
Other speakers from left-wing and liberal groups called for EU sanctions against Hungary, including the suspension of the country’s voting rights, through the so-called Article 7 process.
In March, the Hungarian parliament approved a bill that in effect bans the gay pride march. As the legislation states, this event could violate Hungary’s so-called child protection law, adopted earlier in the country, prohibiting any portrayal of same sex relationships for minors.
The European Commission views this as a violation of its community law and has referred the case to the European Court of Justice.
Conservative and far-right MEPs in the European Parliament defended Orbán’s move to ban Pride events, saying the EU should not interfere in Hungary’s internal affairs.
MEP Kinga Gál, from the ruling Fidesz party of Hungary, said Brussels should respect Hungary’s laws.
“In Hungary, everyone can live and gather freely. But for us, the interest of the children and their physical and mental development is a priority. And everyone has to respect this,” Gál said.
The Budapest Pride is planned for the 28th of June in the centre of Budapest. According to the new law, participants will also be monitored by AI camera systems and will be fined.
Around 70 MEPs will travel to the Budapest Pride, but the European Commission will not send anyone.
Meanwhile, the opposition-led town of Budapest is trying to save the Pride march using a legal loophole.
Mayor Gergely Karácsony announced that the city steps in as organiser, and in this case, police authorisation is not needed. The police disagree with this interpretation.
“There is still a legal battle going on over whether Pride can take place legally or not. The latest development is that the Budapest mayor has come forward and said that he is organising the Pride. Because he does not need police authorisation,” German MEP from the Greens, Daniel Freund, said.
EU Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath stated that the Commission is still investigating the law and is prepared to utilise all necessary tools to safeguard European values in this matter.
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