Tens of thousands of people take part in Budapest’s first official Pride march since Viktor Orbán left office, according to multiple outlets. The parade happens on a day with scorching temperatures, but participants and organisers say many still feel both hope and caution following 16 years of Orbán-led government policies that restricted LGBTQ+ rights. Several reports say the march had been targeted in the past, including an attempted ban by Orbán as part of a broader crackdown.
Most accounts describe the event as authorised and expected to proceed peacefully after police give it the green light. At the same time, outlets report that tensions remain. France 24 says far-right activists removed some rainbow flags displayed on the Elisabeth Bridge ahead of the march and replaced them with Hungarian flags. Other coverage highlights the public atmosphere in post-Orbán Hungary, with some describing a “new era,” while uncertainty persists about the direction of LGBTQ+ policy under Péter Magyar, the newly elected prime minister, who avoided the issue during the campaign and has made statements against stigmatising people for how they love.
