Budapest’s Pride parade marched through the city centre yesterday, the first since Viktor Orban’s departure from power. Thousands gathered under rainbow flags, a stark contrast to the years of government-sponsored homophobia. The UK government issued a statement of support, reaffirming its commitment to European democratic freedoms.
For many Hungarians, this is more than a celebration: it is a hard-won return to a Europe they feared they had lost. Orban’s legacy of illiberal democracy left deep scars: restrictive laws on LGBTQ+ content, a crackdown on NGOs, and a grip on the judiciary. His successor, Prime Minister Anna Kovacs, has promised a break from the past.
We are back in the fold of European values," she said in a televised address. The march itself was peaceful, but tensions remain high.
Counter-protesters lined the route, some shouting slurs. Police kept both sides apart. For the UK, the event is a symbol of the values it championed as a member state and continues to uphold post-Brexit.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly tweeted: "Britain stands with those who march for freedom and equality. Europe is strongest when its democracies are open."
But the economic context cannot be ignored. Orban’s rule left Hungary with high inflation and stagnant wages. The cost of living crisis has hit LGBTQ+ people harder, many of whom face discrimination in housing and employment.
“We still have a long way to go," said Gabor Szabo, a 34-year-old teacher at the parade. But today we feel we belong again."
Budapest’s Pride is a reminder that democracy is not a one-off event but a daily struggle. The UK’s backing is welcome, but Hungarians know the real work begins now.
