Thousands of people in Budapest gathered to protest Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s move to ban the annual LGBTQ+ Pride march on Saturday. They dressed in grey and carried sarcastic banners to mock the government’s stance against diversity. The protest happened in central Budapest.
Satirical Party Leads the Rally
The Two-tailed Dog Party, known for its humor-based activism, organised the event. This demonstration followed a law passed by Parliament last month that bans the Pride event. Orban’s Fidesz party claimed the march could harm children. The parade was originally planned for late June.
Critics Slam the Law as Anti-Democratic
Many Hungarians criticised the law as an attack on democratic rights. They argued it is part of Orban’s wider effort to limit freedoms ahead of next year’s national elections. Opinion polls show that the opposition may pose a serious challenge to Orban’s leadership.
Protesters Use Sarcasm to Make a Statement
Demonstrators held signs with ironic slogans like “being uniform is cool” and “listen to your heart, death to colours.” One protester, Samuel Tar, said, “I would strip them (LGBT people) of their right to assembly, because they are all criminals.” He added, “They would like to express themselves, which is very harmful. Only I should be allowed to express myself, no one else.”
Party Highlights National Issues Through Irony
The Two-tailed Dog Party sarcastically claimed they supported Orban’s anti-diversity agenda. They joked that diversity causes all of Hungary’s problems—including inflation, housing shortages, and poor public services. “Every problem in the world stems from diversity and individualism,” the party said.
Satirical Group Grows in Influence
The Two-tailed Dog Party started nearly 20 years ago as a fringe group. Last year, its leader Gergely Kovacs won a mayoral election in a Budapest district, defeating a Fidesz candidate in a traditional stronghold. The party currently holds no seats in Parliament. Although it brands itself as the only “sensible” choice in a polarised country, it remains unclear whether it can gain enough support in the next national election.
