Tánaiste slams Hungary’s ban on Pride events and facial recognition surveillance
MPs of Momentum protest with flares during the plenary session of the Hungarian parliament in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Boglarka Bodnar/MTI via AP)
The Tánaiste has said he is "alarmed" after Hungary's parliament passed a law banning Pride events and allowing authorities to use facial recognition software to identify attendees.
Hungary's prime minister Viktor Orban’s right-wing populist party brought forward the law as part of a continued crackdown on the country’s LGBT+ community.
The measure passed in a 136-27 vote, having only been brought forward on Monday morning.
It amends Hungary’s law on assembly to make it an offence to hold or attend events that violate Hungary’s contentious “child protection” legislation, which prohibits the “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to minors under 18.
Attending a prohibited event will carry fines up to 200,000 Hungarian forints (€504), which the state must forward to “child protection,” according to the text of the law.
Reacting on Wednesday, Simon Harris said the move restricted LGBTQ+ rights even further.
In a statement, he said: "I am alarmed that the Hungarian Parliament has passed legislation which further restricts the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary.
"The EU is founded on fundamental values which all Member States are obligated to uphold and defend. This development is the latest in a series of measures by the Hungarian Government which targets civil society space, independent media and minorities, including the LGBTQ+ community.
"We will also continue to strongly support the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary, and will vocally defend their rights, as guaranteed under EU Law.
"We urge the Hungarian Government to cease targeting the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary and urge them to abide by their obligations under EU Law."
