EUROPEAN Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has called on Hungarian authorities to permit Saturday’s Budapest Pride parade to go ahead, after police banned the event.

Ms von der Leyen said on the X social media platform: “I call on the Hungarian authorities to allow the Budapest Pride to go ahead without fear of any criminal or administrative sanctions against the organisers or participants.”

She claimed: “In Europe, marching for your rights is a fundamental freedom.” The EU chief has not criticised German police attacks on Palestine demonstrations.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused the European Commission of interfering in the law enforcement affairs of member states, “where it has no role to play.”

Hungary’s police banned the Pride march last week, saying a law requiring children be “protected” from LGBT influences overrides the right to assemble.

However, Budapest’s mayor and event organisers say the march will go ahead despite the ban, as it is a municipal event not requiring permission.

On Tuesday, Hungary’s Justice Minister Bence Tuzson sent a letter to several foreign embassies informing them that the Pride parade was “a legally banned assembly, organising and announcing of which qualifies as a criminal offence.”

His letter came a day after diplomats from Britain, France, Germany and 30 other countries expressed support for Hungary’s LGBT community and Budapest Pride.