I just watched a few news summaries about the Pride parade in Budapest, Hungary.
You may skip this blog if you are easily triggered by political drama.
The Hungarian president, Victor Orban, had promulgated a new law in March that was supposed to protect children from same-sex and transgender “propaganda”, but essentially was aimed at forbidding the Pride parade. It was essentially the start for his re-election campaign for early next year. Violators of this law could face not only substantial fines, but also jail time.
The mayor of Budapest essentially made an end-run around said prohibition by declaring the Pride parade to be city celebration in Budapest.
Where the organizers had planed for up to 30.000 attendees, in the end over 200.000 people showed up for the Pride parade yesterday. Including some 70 member of the European Parliament from various countries. There was also a very very small counter-protest by some extreme right activists. Many of the attendees were young adults, who are the political future of the country. But also many families attended, with fathers carrying their young children on their shoulders through the parade.
Apart from demonstrating for the [human] rights of queer people, this also became a watershed demonstration for the basic human rights and values of the European community. Such as the right to peaceful assembly, the right to protest, and such basic human rights as self-expression and identity.
It is possible that this attempted prohibition of Pride could be backfiring on Victor Orban in next years election.
Comments
Such courage!
“Pride” was easy when it was getting corporate sponsors. But to march in a Pride Parade in Orban’s Hungary — that’s when you know someone really means it.
— Emma
Orban
From what I hear about him from my Hungarian friends, he is after a single thing - power for himself. Preferably dictatorial - and have enlisted Putin as a source of support and know-how for that. Paying him with blocking EU help for Ukraine.
What holds him from making a coup is that most of his cronies serve him for the opportunity to embezzle money from the European development funds, and these will instantly stop coming if he goes overboard. So he tries to walk a fine line.
That policy of him however bankrupts Hungary. When he came to power, Hungary was the economy star of Eastern Europe, firmly ahead by living standard of all other countries there. Now, it is behind all (maybe except Albania, I am not sure). All polls show he is going to lose the elections in 2026, and likely badly.
So, the outpouring of support for the Pride there - some say it has been more than 200 000 people - is not even so much support for the LGBT community (though it may translate to that with the time). It is also an opportunity for the Hungarians to show they are against Orban.
That’s okay.
I agree, it’s a middle finger to Orban more than just support for the LGBTQ community. But I strongly believe it will take a broad coalition to beat back the current wave of authoritarian governments. That we are part of that coalition is good for our souls; that we are seen as being part of that coalition . . . well. If we are to have a future, that’s where it lies.
— Emma
I Saw Footage
Of the demonstration. It was much more than a march. I would certainly believe 200,000 or even more. The LGBT community was just a part of it, integrated within the crowds, and obviously welcomed.
I expect Orban will pull every dirty trick in the book to stay in power, so I hope the result of the election next year is so overwhelming that he can't claim "It was rigged."
He will claim that if he loses, no matter how big is the result
The question is, will he be able to do anything about it.
Count on
Trump backing him: CNN Online, March 5, 2024
Donald Trump heaped praise on Viktor Orbán while hosting the Hungarian prime minister at Mar-a-Lago on Friday night.
“There’s nobody that’s better, smarter or a better leader than Viktor Orbán. He’s fantastic,” the former president told a crowd gathered for a concert at the Florida resort, as shown in a series of videos posted to Orbán’s Instagram account.
Trump added that the European autocrat is “a noncontroversial figure because he said, ‘This is the way it’s going to be,’ and that’s the end of it, right? He’s the boss and … he’s a great leader, fantastic leader. In Europe and around the world, they respect him.” We are so fucked!
Love, Andrea Lena
Count on
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Love, Andrea Lena