Hungary: duel over Budapest Pride march
A showdown in Budapest on Saturday? Viktor Orbáns government had amended the constitution to create the legal basis for banning Pride marches, invoking the 'protection of children'. However, Budapest's mayor, Gergely Karácsony, has declared the event to be a 'freedom festival' of the city which is not subject to legal provisions on the right of assembly. Numerous guests from abroad are expected.
Symbol of resistance
Two political worldviews will clash in Budapest, says Népszava:
“Orbán has tried to make a gesture vis-à-vis the far right to get their votes. ... At Orbán's request, the police prohibited the event, while Karácsony isn't backing down. ... Participating in the event has now become a symbol of a kind of civil disobedience; multiple members of the European Parliament are coming to Budapest and a mass of liberal, leftist, freethinking people have decided to attend the event.”
Not the responsibility of a local administration
The mayor should focus on managing the city instead, writes pro-government newspaper Magyar Nemzet:
“The Budapest local government is not an umbrella organisation for 'gay rights'. It's not its task to get involved in the issue of who desires men and who desires women. That is why Budapest's local government must not and cannot hang the flag of the international 'gay rights movement' out of windows or raise it on buildings. It has no mandate from the citizens of Budapest - except for those affected - to do so. In other words: the mayor should focus on his actual job, namely running the city.”
The government is on the wrong track
Orbán will continue to lose support, Magyar Hang predicts:
“It will now be difficult [for the government] to escape from the trap. ... What will happen on Saturday? Will the march go off without a hitch? Will the police break up the entire event? Will tens of thousands be slapped with fines? What's the plan? Whatever happens will be counterproductive for the government. The numbers of people voting for it is dwindling. And for a long time, no one besides its voter base has backed it in this new controversy about the Pride march. ... It will be forced to watch its popularity continue to wane.”