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State Secretary Paul boycotts Budapest Pride for security reasons!
Staatssecretaris Paul is not taking part in Budapest Pride to support LGBTQ+ rights in Hungary and calls for respect for human rights.
State Secretary Paul boycotts Budapest Pride for security reasons!
The current situation surrounding Budapest Pride is causing great excitement in Europe. Today, June 28, 2025, the retired State Secretary for Emancipation, Mariëlle Paul (VVD), had to announce that she will not take part in the Pride celebration. For Paul, the situation is too uncertain to take part as an official representative of the Dutch government NOS reported. In Hungary, the rights of LGBTIQ+ people are severely restricted and the Pride march was banned by law this year.
Paul is in Budapest to draw attention to the Hungarian government's failure to comply with human rights standards within the European Union. She also wants to support the Pride participants during her visit. The reason for her refusal to participate is concern about possible arrests of the demonstrators, who also include prominent political figures.
A strong sign for the LGBTIQ+ community
Amsterdam understands the situation on the ground and is sending a clear message. Mayor Femke Halsema also decided to attend the event despite the dangers. Her visit and that of Paul are intended to be a show of solidarity for the LGBTIQ+ community in Hungary and at the same time protest against the suppression of human rights. In addition to the two women, at least 70 members of the European Parliament and other representatives from the Netherlands and Belgium are also expected Gaykrant reported.
Budapest police justified the decision to ban Pride on the grounds that minors could come into contact with content deemed inappropriate. However, Budapest's progressive Mayor Gergely Karácsony has reiterated that Pride will take place as a municipal event, regardless of legal restrictions.
Call for action against Hungary
The situation in Hungary has also caused international concern. 20 EU states, including Germany, are calling on the EU Commission to take decisive action against the Hungarian government. The reason is changes in the law that affect the rights of LGBTIQ+ people. In a joint statement, the countries said they were “deeply concerned” about the threat of fines for organizers of Pride events and the introduction of automatic facial recognition at such events DW reported.
The Hungarian government is under pressure to revise new regulations that undermine freedom of expression, assembly and data protection. The debate about the rights of LGBTIQ+ people and the protection of these fundamental freedoms is becoming ever louder, and the participation of high-ranking politicians in Pride in Budapest is seen as an important sign of resistance to these measures.
It should be noted that Pride in Budapest goes far beyond a local event. It has become a symbol of freedom and equality. The commitment of local and European politicians underlines the urgency of standing up for the rights of LGBTIQ+ people, not only in Hungary but across Europe.