Overview

• June 28 parade drew an estimated 180,000–200,000 participants, making it Budapest’s largest ever despite a police ban.
• Mayor Gergely Karácsony declared Pride a city festival to circumvent the ban and led the procession alongside opposition politicians.
• Some 70 European Parliament members, including Daniel Freund and EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, joined local activists in solidarity.
• Under Hungary’s amended child-protection law, participants face fines up to €500 and organizers risk up to one year in prison.
• The massive turnout has fueled a broader clash over democratic rights and prompted EU calls to escalate Article 7 measures against Hungary’s government.