The mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karacsony, presented himself on Friday 1is August before the investigators to be asked about the organization in June of the 30e Pride march in the capital of Hungary, despite an official ban. If he is charged, the ecological mayor risks up to a year in prison for organizing a rally prohibited by the Orban government.
“During the Pride de Budapest, many of us report to the world that neither freedom nor love can be prohibited in Budapest”told the mayor to a few hundred sympathizers who had gathered to express their solidarity. “And if they cannot be prohibited, they cannot be punished”added the mayor dressed in a t-shirt struck by the coat of arms of the capital superimposed in the colors of the rainbow.
According to the organizers, more than 200,000 people participated at the end of June in the Pride, a parade denounced the repression carried out for years by the Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, against the rights of LGBTQ+ on behalf of the “Child protection”.
Before the march, the nationalist Prime Minister had warned the organizers and the participants against “Legal consequences”. The National Office of Investigation, responsible for investigating serious and complex crimes by the government, later opened an investigation “Against unknown author” for the organization of a prohibited rally.
Police announced last month that they would not take action against participants, who could have been inflicted fines of up to 500 euros.