Nicu Stefănuță, present at Budapest Pride, despite the prohibition imposed by the Orban government: “Love cannot be forbidden”
The Vice -President of the European Parliament, Nicu Stefănuță, will lead a delegation of 72 MEPs at the Budapest Pride Parade, in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community in Hungary.
Nicu Ștefănuță will lead the delegation to Budapest Pride Photo: Eduard Enea
Budapest Pride, scheduled for June 27-28, was forbidden by the police in the Hungarian capital, but the event continues to be organized with the support of Budapest Liberal Mayor Gergely Karácsony, and Budapest Pride organization. About 60,000 people are expected to participate.
In this tense context, Nicu Ștefănuță (Green/Ale group), vice -president of the European Parliament and the first Romanian MEP affiliated with this group, will run the delegation of 72 MEPs. They thus show their support for the LGBTQIA+ community in Hungary, at a time when the Budapest authorities are trying to limit its rights.
“At Budapest Pride, I will send a clear message: love cannot be forbidden, and human dignity has no borders. The LGBTQIA+ community in Hungary is not alone. As vice -president of the European Parliament, they unequivocally support the struggle for equality, freedom and human rights. Where governments raise walls of hatred, we will build solidarity bridges. Europe is at home for everyone, no matter who I am or who I love ”said Nicu Stefănuță, according to News.ro.
Meetings with NGOs and diplomats
In his capacity as vice -president responsible for the relationship with civil society, Stefănuță will have a series of meetings with organizations working in the field of law and fighting against corruption, including Transparency International and Amnesty International.
It will also have a brief meeting with the Romanian ambassador to Budapest, Gabriel Șopanda, within the exhibition “Sânzienele”, organized by the Romanian Embassy in Hungary and the Romanian Cultural Institute in Budapest.
The hard reaction of the Orban government
The Hungarian government sent an official letter to the EU ambassadors, asking them not to participate in the march. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has publicly threatened with severe sanctions: “We are adults and recommend that everyone decide what they want, respect the rules … and if they do not, then they should face clear legal consequences“, Orban said in an interview with the public radio station.
The Hungarian Parliament, dominated by the Fidesz party led by Orban, adopted in March a controversial legislation that allows the prohibition of LGBTQ marches under the pretext of protecting children. The new law provides the police to use facial recognition systems to identify participants and apply fines.
European context
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, asked Hungary to return to the prohibition imposed on the event, emphasizing the importance of respecting European values and fundamental rights of EU citizens.
Nicu Stefănuță is a member of the Commission for Budgets and the Commission for Industry, Research and Energy in the European Parliament. At the same time, he works as a alternate member in the Commission for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Commission for Public Health.
