Demissionary State Secretary Mariëlle Paul (Emancipation) will not participate in the pride in Budapest on Saturday. The situation surrounding the procession, which Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has banned, is “too unclear” for her.
Paul is in Budapest to address Hungary on its failure to comply with agreements on human rights. The Hungarian government of Orbán does this by restricting the rights of LGBTQIA+ people. A majority of the House of Representatives had asked the government in a motion to send a delegation to the banned pride.
The State Secretary finds the situation surrounding the pride at this time “too unclear” to be able to participate “as a representative of the Dutch cabinet,” she tells the NOS and RTL Nieuws. This has to do with the chance that participants will be arrested.
In advance, Paul had already indicated that participation in the march depended on the way in which the ban could be enforced. She would participate anyway if the ban were lifted. The State Secretary did attend other events and discussions surrounding the LGBTQIA+ movement on Friday.
New legislation from Orbán ensures that gatherings of the LGBTQIA+ movement, such as the pride, have been banned since this year. The progressive mayor of Budapest disagrees with the ban and believes that the pride can continue.
Dozens of European politicians in Budapest
The ban caused angry reactions in other European countries. In addition to Paul, dozens of other international politicians have come to Budapest, including a group of Dutch MPs and the Mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema.
Paul believes that she can also support the LGBTQIA+ movement with her presence in Budapest. In the Hungarian capital, she spoke with the organizations behind the pride, the mayor of Budapest and European Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib.
With this, Paul wants to give Hungary the signal that the country must adhere to European agreements on values. “That you may be who you are and may love who you want throughout Europe.”