Today (Tuesday), the Hungarian police banned the Pride march in Budapest, which was scheduled for June 28. The ban is based on a new law and a constitutional amendment introduced by the Orbán government, which severely restricts the right to assembly in Hungary. These new laws were deliberately pushed through by the Hungarian government in order to legally prevent the Budapest Pride. The organizers have announced their intention to appeal the decision.

There had already been protests against the Orbán government’s anti-Pride law — from Members of the European Parliament, the European Commission, and 20 EU member states. Dozens of MEPs and members of national parliaments have announced plans to travel to Budapest on June 28 to protest the Pride ban.

Daniel Freund, Member of the European Parliament for the Greens, comments:

“The banning of Pride is an unprecedented attack on the fundamental rights of all EU citizens. Under a ludicrous pretext, core principles of democracy and the rule of law are being dismantled. This decision marks a new level of arbitrary rule in Hungary. The EU must now respond decisively to this abusive action by the Orbán government. All EU funds to Hungary must be suspended immediately. EU member states must agree on withdrawing Hungary’s voting rights. Orbán needs to feel the consequences of crossing this line. It is now up to all Europeans to show that there is no place for dictatorial conditions à la Vladimir Putin in the European Union.”