By Martin Banks

MEPs will be among the expected record crowds at the Brussels Pride march in Budapest this weekend.

The organisers of the event, which this year will mark its 30th anniversary, have accused the Hungarian government of attempting to restrict peaceful protests by targeting them.

As a show of support scores of MEPs are in the city to take part in the march which is expected to attract tens of thousands.

The Socialists, on Saturday, issued a statement which said, “We reaffirm our commitment to respect for human dignity, freedom, equality and human rights, as laid down in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, reflected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and embedded in international human rights treaties.”

It adds, “These constitute the foundation of the rights enjoyed by those living in the EU.  

“Any breach of those values does not only concern the Member State where the breach occurred, but has an impact on all Member States, on mutual trust between them and on the very nature of the EU and its citizens’ fundamental rights under EU law.

It goes on, “We are gravely concerned about a growing backlash against fundamental rights, across Europe and around the world. Fear, violence and discrimination continue to be a reality faced by many LGBTIQ+ people, including in the EU. We cannot stay silent.

“We agree with the recent opinion of the Attorney General of the European Court of Justice stating that Orbán’s so-called Child Act is a clear violation of fundamental rights.”

The statement continues, “The Hungarian Government’s ban on the Budapest Pride march is not just a cowardly attack on a community of Hungarian citizens, it is a clear display of authoritarianism, using the powers of government to undermine democracy and incite fear, censorship and hatred.

“Spying on those who defend human rights, using facial recognition, issuing fines for exercising freedom of assembly, and turning those who disagree with the government into enemies is repression and a clear breach of EU law.”

The S&D group has now called on the European Commission and the Member States “to use all possible political and legal instruments to reinforce democracy and rule of law in Hungary and across the EU.”

It says, “In particular, we reiterate the request from the European Parliament to initiate proceedings under Article 7(2) TEU.

“LGBTIQ+ rights are human rights. Pride should never be hidden – it should be celebrated. Together, we celebrate it in Budapest with hope and conviction. In Europe, nobody should have to hide who they love to feel safe.

“To the LGBTIQ+ community in Hungary we send a message: you are not alone.”

More comment came from Terry Reintke, Co-President of the Greens/EFA Group, who told this site, “It’s not the Pride march that’s the crime – it’s banning it. This is a direct assault on freedom of expression and assembly, in the middle of the European Union. By targeting and vilifying the LGBTIQ+ community, Viktor Orbán is pursuing one goal: tightening his grip on power by suffocating democracy. He knowingly puts peaceful demonstrators at risk because he refuses to accept their identity.

“But his authoritarian playbook is failing: Europe stands united with Hungary’s brave queer community – for love, for freedom, for human rights. Their fight is our fight. Fundamental rights don’t stop at national borders. Europe will not look away while Orbán’s regime crushes the rule of law, diversity, and democracy. Our message to Viktor Orbán – today, tomorrow, and always – is loud and clear: Europe stands with Pride.”

The European Green Party has sent a huge delegation of over 200 Green politicians and party members to Budapest Pride.

Vula Tsetsi, European Green Party Co‑Chair,added: “We thank Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony for officially designating Budapest Pride a municipal event, shielding it from Prime Minister Orbán’s attempts to marginalize, silence, or ban this peaceful demonstration. Freedom of assembly is a fundamental right – and Mayor Karácsony’s action provides crucial institutional backing that counters efforts to suppress the freedom of speech for the Pride protesters and beyond.”