Charges against Budapest Mayor Gábor Demszky for his role in organising the 2025 Pride march have been dropped, the Hungarian Prosecutor's Office announced this morning. The decision follows diplomatic pressure from London, which framed the case as a test of European commitments to free assembly and expression. Demszky, a prominent liberal figure, faced accusations of breaching a 2021 law restricting public events perceived to promote homosexuality or gender reassignment.
The march, held in June 2025, drew 50,000 participants and international scrutiny. Britain's Foreign Secretary issued a statement welcoming the move, calling it 'a victory for fundamental freedoms'. The UK has long criticised Hungary's civil liberties record, particularly under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Budapest's municipal government declined to comment on the proceedings, citing legal restrictions. The case had become a flashpoint in EU relations, with Brussels observing the trial as part of broader rule-of-law concerns. Demszky's legal team argued that the law contravened EU treaties and the European Convention on Human Rights.
The prosecution's withdrawal removes a potential jail sentence of up to three years. Analysts suggest the outcome may embolden other Hungarian officials to defy the controversial legislation. However, conservative parties in Hungary condemned the decision as foreign interference.
The Pride march itself proceeded without major incident, though police deployed 1,000 officers. The ruling has no immediate effect on Hungary's 2021 law, which remains in force.
