“European Green Party Stands with Budapest Mayor Defying Pride Ban”

European Green Party co-chair Ciarán Cuffe expressed support for Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony, who faces criminal charges for organizing the city’s Pride parade against Hungarian law. Karacsony, defiant in the face of prosecution, emphasized the importance of standing up for freedom. Despite the ban, hundreds of thousands participated in the 2025 Budapest Pride, including Cuffe, who described the experience as empowering amidst restrictions on freedom of expression in Hungary. Karacsony’s actions, deemed unlawful by prosecutors, were in defiance of a ban on Pride events and facial recognition tools enacted by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government. Despite attempts to classify the march as a municipal event, police intervened citing child-protection laws. Karacsony, acknowledging his role in the assembly, rejected the prosecution’s proposed fine without trial, insisting on facing court proceedings to defend the right to freedom. Cuffe criticized laws limiting assembly and expression as undemocratic, highlighting the broader implications for democracy. The European Green Party stands behind Karacsony as a symbol of resistance against far-right movements in Europe, with upcoming Hungarian elections looming on April 12.