Hungary’s Government Warns Of Crackdown On Protests

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Hungary’s rightwing government warned Thursday that it will crack down on protests in Budapest if courts fail to do so amid growing public anger over perceived authoritarian policies and corruption.

“The legislative branch is ready to react if court decisions interpret the regulation of the right to assembly contrary to previous legal practice, thereby contributing to hobbling the capital’s traffic,” said Gergely Gulyas, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Gulyas added that the interior minister briefed the cabinet Wednesday on recent rallies in Budapest that blocked bridges.

“A few hundred demonstrators closed four bridges in the city on one day,” he said, though reporters witnessed thousands participating in the protests.

“Exercising the right to assembly may not curb others’ rights and freedom. We saw a minority of a few hundred people laming the transport of hundreds of thousands,” Gulyas told media Thursday.

He spoke after thousands of people protested in Budapest on Tuesday for the second time within a week against a new law that aims to ban the annual Pride march in support of the LGBTQ+ community. The legislation also allows facial recognition software to identify organizers and attendees.

Hungary’s parliament passed the law proposed by the ruling Fidesz party lawmakers last week to ban the Pride march because “it could be harmful to children

FACING CHALLENGE

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who faces an unprecedented challenge from the new rising opposition Tisza party ahead of the 2026 elections, has criticized the LGBTQ+ community.

In recent weeks, as part of his campaign, he has also pledged to crack down on foreign funding for independent media and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Hungary.

During Tuesday’s protest, participants said their actions “were not only about Pride” but also related to alleged government attempts to limit freedom of expression.

Additionally, German European legislator Daniel Freund accused the government of “having appropriated 14 billion euros ($15.1 billion) in European Union funds.”

A recent document seen by Worthy News listed dozens of properties ranging from golf resorts to hotels owned by Orbán family members and friends.

Like last week’s protests witnessed by Worthy News, there were tensions with police with one prominent activist jumping into the River Danube. He nearly drowned before being rescued and rushed to hospital.

Despite government policies, organizers of the annual Pride events say the march will go ahead in June, and Budapest’s liberal Mayor, Gergely Karácsony, expressed his support for the event.

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