Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary has declared that this year’s Pride event in Budapest should not take place, revealing his government’s increasing hostility toward LGBTQ+ rights. The ruling Fidesz party submitted a bill to the Hungarian parliament, aimed at banning the longstanding annual Pride celebration that has occurred for the past 30 years in the capital city.
The proposed legislation, as reported by Dnes.bg, cites the protection of children as the primary rationale for the ban, stating that any assembly that is deemed harmful to children will not be permitted. The bill seeks to amend existing laws regarding the right to assembly, creating a framework under which authorities can prohibit such events.
In addition to the assembly ban, the legislation includes provisions allowing law enforcement to utilise facial recognition technology to identify individuals participating in the Pride march, which typically takes place along Andrássy Avenue, a prominent thoroughfare in Budapest. This move has raised concerns about privacy and the potential for increased policing of the LGBTQ+ community during the event.
Orban’s current campaign against LGBTQ+ rights aligns with his broader Christian conservative agenda, which he has pursued since taking office in 2010. In recent weeks, he has publicly denounced LGBTQ+ individuals and announced plans to restrict foreign funding for various entities, including media outlets, opposition politicians, and non-governmental organisations in Hungary. This concerted effort appears to be a strategic move as Hungary approaches elections early next year.
In a statement about the legislative changes, Orban asserted the need for societal protection: “It is prohibited to hold an assembly that violates the ban established in the law for the protection of children,” underscoring his administration’s intent to justify the bill as a measure for safeguarding youth.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.eunews.it/en/2025/03/17/hungary-government-introduces-bill-to-ban-pride-in-budapest/ – This article supports the claim that the Hungarian government has introduced a bill to ban Budapest Pride, citing child protection as a rationale and including provisions for facial recognition technology.
- https://www.ilga-europe.org/news/statement-orbans-threat-to-ban-lgbti-pride-marks-a-dangerous-step-toward-silencing-dissent/ – This statement from ILGA-Europe corroborates the concern that banning Budapest Pride is a dangerous step toward silencing dissent and restricting freedoms, aligning with Orbán’s broader agenda.
- https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-viktor-orban-budapest-pride-ban-public-form/ – This article confirms that Orbán’s government has announced a ban on Budapest Pride in its public form, aligning with his previous statements advising organizers not to prepare for the event.
- https://www.euronews.com/2023/02/22/hungary-s-viktor-orban-threatens-to-ban-budapest-pride – This article provides context on Orbán’s threat to ban Budapest Pride, highlighting his stance against LGBTQ+ rights as part of his conservative agenda.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references a recent event from October 2023, indicating it is relatively fresh. However, the lack of more recent updates or developments slightly reduces the score.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The quote from Viktor Orban is not verified against an original source, but it aligns with his known political stance. Without an earliest known reference, it’s difficult to confirm its originality.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from Dnes.bg, which is not a globally recognized publication like the BBC or Reuters. While it may be reliable within its region, its international credibility is less established.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about Orban’s actions and political agenda are plausible given his past policies and public statements. However, specific details about the proposed legislation and its implications require further verification.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be relatively fresh and plausible, aligning with known political trends in Hungary. However, the reliability of the source and the lack of verified quotes reduce confidence. Further verification is needed to confirm specific details about the proposed legislation.
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