The Budapest Pride under scrutiny: LGBTQIA+ rights and the rule of law in the European Union

In recent years, the Budapest Pride has become one of the main symbols of the tensions between the Hungarian government and European institutions on LGBTQIA+ rights. Following reports of intimidation, restrictions, and a lack of adequate protection during the event, the European Parliament launched a formal inquiry to assess possible violations of fundamental rights (European Parliament, 2025).

The Hungarian legal framework

Since 2021, Hungary has faced growing criticism for adopting legislation that restricts the representation of LGBTQIA+ people in the media and in educational settings. According to Human Rights Watch (2023), the so-called anti-LGBT law violates the principle of non-discrimination and contributes to a climate of social stigmatization.

In 2025, further legislative amendments strengthened the State’s powers to limit public assemblies, raising serious concerns about freedom of assembly (EPRS, 2025).

Reports concerning the Budapest Pride

As also reported by Amnesty International, ahead of the Pride the Hungarian authorities allegedly failed to fully guarantee the safety of participants, allowing a climate of intimidation and hostility to develop (Amnesty International, 2025). According to the organization, such practices are incompatible with international obligations and with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

The European Parliament reiterated that freedom of peaceful assembly is an essential element of the rule of law, and that any restrictions must be strictly necessary and proportionate (European Parliament, 2025).

The European inquiry and possible consequences

The inquiry launched by the Parliament forms part of the broader rule of law monitoring mechanism concerning Hungary. According to the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, the protection of sexual minorities is a key indicator of the democratic quality of a Member State (FRA, 2022).

Should systemic violations be identified, the Parliament could call for further action by the Commission, including the application of EU funds conditionality mechanisms, which have already been used in other areas of democratic governance.

The case of the Budapest Pride is not merely a local controversy, but a test of the European Union’s ability to safeguard its founding values. The outcome of the inquiry will be decisive for the EU’s credibility as a guarantor of fundamental rights within its own borders.