Chaos broke out in the Hungarian Parliament following the controversial approval of a new law that bans public displays and events linked to the LGBTI community, including the annual Pride Parade in Budapest.
The legislation, passed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling party Fidesz, has sparked intense backlash both inside and outside the country, igniting tensions among political parties, civil society groups, and international human rights organizations.
According to the government, the new law is designed to protect “traditional family values”, which Orbán and his allies argue are under threat from “foreign ideologies.” Under the law, all public Pride events and similar gatherings are prohibited in open public spaces, and participating in or organizing such events could now be classified as a public order offense.
🚨 Strict Measures and Surveillance
In a highly criticized move, the law allows the use of advanced surveillance technologies, including facial recognition, to monitor and identify participants. Authorities will also be allowed to issue fines of up to €500 for each individual found violating the new regulations.
📢 Public Outcry and International Condemnation
The decision has drawn widespread condemnation, with human rights advocates calling it a major setback for freedom of expression and equality in Hungary. Dozens of international organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have described the law as discriminatory and in violation of fundamental EU values.
Protests erupted immediately after the vote, both inside Parliament—where opposition MPs chanted slogans and clashed verbally with Fidesz members—and on the streets of Budapest, where demonstrators vowed to continue fighting for LGBTI rights.
🇪🇺 Meanwhile, the European Union is expected to review the legality of this new legislation, which many believe breaches basic human rights protocols under EU law.
The move is part of a wider pattern of increasingly authoritarian policies implemented by Orbán’s government, drawing concern from Brussels and global watchdogs alike.
