Charges Against Budapest Mayor Over Pride Dropped

Hungarian prosecutors have dropped charges against Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony over his role in organizing the 2025 Budapest Pride march.

Karacsony had been accused of violating the law by organizing and leading an event that police had banned ahead of the January parliamentary elections. He argued that the march did not require a special permit because it had been registered as a municipal event rather than a public demonstration.

The Pride march ultimately went ahead peacefully in central Budapest, drawing tens of thousands of participants. It also became one of the largest anti-government protests against then-Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Prosecutors said their decision was based on an April ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union. The court found that Hungary’s 2021 Child Protection Act, which authorities had used to justify banning the march, was incompatible with EU law.

According to the ruling, the legislation unjustifiably restricted access to content depicting homosexuality and gender diversity, violating both fundamental rights and core EU values.

Orban was defeated in April’s parliamentary elections by the center-right Tisza party, ending his 16 years in power.

(reuters, lud)