MEPs call for EU court to suspend Hungary’s Pride ban

A delegation of EU lawmakers visiting Hungary has called on Europe's top court to suspend a new law banning Budapest Pride, citing a "very hostile atmosphere" for LGBTQ+ people in the country and urging a return to "real democracy." The law allows authorities to use facial recognition technology to track attendees of LGBTQ+ events. The MEPs criticized the Hungarian government's actions as a full-frontal attack on LGBTQ+ rights and expressed concern over physical attacks and hate crimes against the community. They also noted pressure on independent media and aggressive rhetoric from authorities. Some government departments declined to meet with the delegation, and three far-right European parliament groups refused to join the visit. The US government recently lifted sanctions on a close aide to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, citing inconsistency with US foreign policy interests.