Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called Saturday's Pride parade in Budapest “disgusting and shameful“ and accused the European Union of encouraging opposition politicians to organize the event, which turned into an anti-government protest, "Reuters" reports, quoted by News.bg.
The LGBT+ community march has become one of the largest demonstrations against Orban in recent years. Despite a police ban and threats of fines, about 100,000 people joined the march.
In a speech to a closed online group for his supporters called “Boen club“, Orbán said that opposition politicians, “instructed by Brussels“, had called on their voters to join the event en masse.
“Since yesterday we are even more convinced that these people should not be allowed to govern the country. And we will not allow them“, the prime minister was categorical.
Orbán did not present evidence to support his claims. The event was organized by the Budapest municipality, led by Mayor Gergely Karacsony, whom the government has long accused of being a “puppet of Brussels“.
The prime minister told his supporters that he found the parade's events “disgusting and shameful”, highlighting the participation of transvestites, men in high heels and the distribution of brochures about hormone therapy.
The march was officially banned under a law passed in March that allows restrictions on such events on the grounds of protecting children.
Orban's critics see the ban as part of a broader crackdown on democratic freedoms ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections. The prime minister, who has been in power for 15 years, will face strong opposition.
On Friday, Orban attacked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who had earlier called on Hungarian authorities to allow the gay pride parade. According to Orban, her remarks show that she views Hungary as a “subordinate state”, even comparing its position to “orders from Moscow during communist times”.
Orban's government, which pursues a Christian-conservative agenda, has significantly curtailed the rights of the LGBT+ community over the past decade. Authorities justify the restrictions with the need to protect children, placing this priority over other rights and freedoms.