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Hungary to ban Budapest Pride from public spaces
Hungary’s government plans on relocating the annual Budapest Pride to a closed venue for "child protection". The move is seen by critics as the latest attack on LGBTQ+ rights.
Gergely Gulyás, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s chief of staff, suggested that the parade, traditionally held along Budapest’s Andrassy Avenue, should no longer take place in public spaces. A Pride held in a closed space poses no risk to children,” Gulyás said. The announcement follows comments from Orbán, who warned organizers not to “bother” planning the event.
For decades, the Pride parade has been a key event for Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community, drawing thousands of participants and allies onto the boulevard in colorful attires. Organizers insist the march is family-friendly and poses no threat to children.
Orbán has increasingly positioned himself to champion "Christian conservative" values and echoed a more far-right narrative during these past years. His government introduced legislation in 2021 banning the portrayal of homosexuality to minors — a law that has been condemned by the European Union. Same-sex marriage remains illegal in Hungary, with the constitution defining marriage strictly as the union of a man and a woman. Adoption rights for same-sex couples have also been banned under Orbán’s rule.
Thousands protest for judicial independence in Budapest
Thousands of Hungarian judges and supporters marched through Budapest on Saturday, demanding judicial independence, freedom of expression for judges, and better pay. The demonstration was held under the slogan “justice is not for sale,” 444. hu reports.
The independence of Hungary's courts has resulted in a rift between the country's nationalist government and the European Union, especially after the Orban government struck a deal with three main judicial representative bodies to tie salary increases to broad-based reforms.
Katalin Boros, head of the Hungarian Judiciary Association said that any erosion of judicial independence threatens the rights of all citizens. Judges also called for the right to express their dissatisfaction more freely and highlighted the need for better pay amid a high turnover of court staff, particularly in Budapest and central Hungary. Judge Rita Kiszely, who attended the protest, said: “We are not saying judicial independence has been eliminated. However, there are signs that it is under threat.”
Viktor Orbán: The war is over
Viktor Orbán gave a speech at the inauguration of the CODE Digital Experience Centre in Veszprém. He started his speech focusing on local issues and then shifted to global politics, 444 writes.
He said the liberals believe that the world has come to an end, but, the truth is that only the liberal world is over. "All their secrets are out and the whole international construction is collapsing like a house of cards in front of us."
Orbán says the liberal West has fallen, but freedom is coming back. He also said that the war was over and 2025 would be the first year of peace. "A new year, a new era, new opportunities. Now is the time to think big." He added that "Hungary is a diverse, tolerant, and proud nation".
Szijjarto travels to Washington to meet Trump officials before talks with Chinese counterpart
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó held talks in Washington and New York, to strengthen ties with the Trump administration.
In Washington, Szijjártó met with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss their shared opposition to a global minimum corporate tax rate. He lobbied for the Trump administration to reinstate the Hungarian-US double taxation agreement, which was terminated in 2022. Szijjártó also advocated for the removal of Antal Rogán from the US sanctions list, where he was placed over corruption allegations.
Szijjártó also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the UN headquarters in New York. He defended Hungary’s close economic partnership with Beijing, citing large Chinese investments. According to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang praised Hungary for viewing China as a development opportunity.