Politically, Orban’s inability to stop Pride from going ahead risks projecting weakness at a time when his Fidesz party is trailing in the polls. However, a heavy-handed police response could also deepen public dissatisfaction and further undermine his support.

Budapest Pride went ahead on June 28 in defiance of a government ban, drawing the backing of more than 70 members of the European Parliament and several prominent European ministers, who travelled to the Hungarian capital to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community.