The measure was pushed through in just over 24 hours, triggering large-scale protests and confrontations with police.
Six lawmakers from Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling coalition introduced the amendment Monday morning, and the parliament—where the coalition holds a constitutional majority—adopted it the same day.
The bill reinforces an existing “child protection” statute banning what the government calls “LGBTQ propaganda.”
Under the new provision, any gathering deemed to violate that law is forbidden. Organizers and attendees risk fines of roughly PLN 2,000 (around €400), and police have been authorized to use facial recognition software.
Protests and clashes
As parliament voted, opposition lawmakers from the Momentum party set off multicolored smoke bombs, dropped photos of Orbán and Russian President Vladimir Putin from a balcony, and played the Soviet anthem over loudspeakers.
Following the vote, Budapest’s left-wing mayor, Gergely Karácsony, declared that the Pride march “will happen,” urging citizens to join a demonstration outside parliament Tuesday night.
Thousands subsequently took to the streets. Two separate rallies converged on Kossuth Square in front of the parliament building before moving to Margaret Bridge, a key crossing of the Danube.
Minor clashes ensued when police tried to halt the demonstrators, who managed to block traffic on the bridge for several hours.
(jh)
Source: IAR,Reuters