THE GUARDIAN: As Viktor Orbán tightens his grip in the country, rights organisations have called for the EU to intervene
A rights campaigner in Hungary has been placed under investigation and is facing potential criminal charges after organising a peaceful Pride march, in a case that campaigners have described as “unprecedented and dangerous” for the EU.
In early October, thousands flocked to the southern city of Pécs to take part in Pride. It was the fifth year that the march was held – the only other annual Pride gathering in the country besides that of Budapest – and was becoming a showcase of the city’s commitment to freedom, diversity and the coexistence of minorities.
This year, however, politics loomed large. In March the country’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, and his rightwing populist party had voted to ban Pride events and allow the authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify and potentially fine those in attendance, a move Amnesty International described as a “full-frontal attack” on LGBTQ+ people. » | Ashifa Kassam, European Community affairs correspondent | Wednesday, December 10, 2025