Renew Europe condemns the prosecution of the Mayor of Budapest

Name: Brand Response
Price range: $

Catherine Laurence Martens-Preiss

January 28, 2026

Renew Europe strongly condemns the prosecution of Gergely Karácsony, Mayor of Budapest, for his role in allowing a peaceful Pride event to take place in the Hungarian capital last year.

"Criminalising an elected mayor for defending freedom of assembly and equal rights is another attempt to turn Hungary away from Europe, towards Moscow. Peaceful Pride marches are not a threat to public order, they are an expression of dignity, visibility and basic democratic European values.
With elections approaching, the Hungarian authorities appear more focused on culture-war provocations and confrontations with the European Union than on addressing the real challenges facing Hungarian citizens: a struggling economy, a cost of living crisis, a healthcare system under strain, and persistent concerns about corruption and misuse of public funds."
Valérie Hayer
Renew Europe MEP, France, Renaissance

Targeting a mayor and vilifying the LGBTIQ+ community will not fix hospital waiting lists, raise living standards, or restore trust in public institutions. It is a deliberate attempt to divide society and divert attention from government failure.

"Renew Europe stands in full solidarity with Mayor Karácsony, with Budapest Pride, and with all Hungarians who continue to defend freedom, equality and democracy. We will continue to oppose the systematic erosion of the rule of law in Hungary and support those who refuse to be silenced. Viktor Orban appears desperate to distract Hungarian voters from dire public services which are strangled of money by systemic corruption."
Fabienne Keller
Renew Europe MEP, France, Renaissance

The Renew Europe delegation to the Budapest Pride March consisted of the following MEPs, who add their condemnation to the arrest of Gergely Karácsony: Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Moritz Körner, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Hilde Vautmans, Yvan Verougstraete, Emma Wiesner and Lucia Yar.

LIBE Hungary LGBTIQ+ rights LGBTI Hungary