Budapest Mayor Faces Jail Over Record Pride Parade

Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony was questioned by police as a suspect for organizing the city's record-breaking Pride march on June 28, 2024, which proceeded despite an official ban from Hungary's right-wing government. If convicted under laws restricting LGBTQ+ events, Karácsony could face up to a year in prison, with authorities citing child protection as the rationale. He rejected the accusations as unfounded, vowed legal challenges, and argued that municipal events should not fall under the government's ban. Hundreds of supporters accompanied him during questioning, emphasizing public opposition to the restrictions. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government has enacted several anti-LGBTQ+ laws, prompting criticism from rights groups and European leaders. The 2024 Budapest Pride parade became the largest in Hungary’s history, with organizers reporting over 200,000 participants in defiance of the government's measures.