Hungarian authorities have banned six opposition MPs from entering parliament after they attempted to disrupt the adoption of a law banning LGBTQ+ Pride events.
The incident occurred during a parliamentary session when lawmakers from the liberal Momentum party and independent MP Ákos Hadházy set off smoke grenades in the chamber, filling it with colorful smoke.
According to Politico, following the incident, Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament László Kövér, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, decided to temporarily suspend the lawmakers involved. Momentum leader Dávid Bedő commented on the situation, stating that the opposition had expected a harsh reaction from the authorities.
As a result, Bedő and two other MPs were banned from parliament for two months and had their salaries withheld for six months. Three more Momentum MPs were banned for one month and lost their salaries for four months. The total fines imposed on the six opposition lawmakers amounted to over 80 million Hungarian forints (approximately 200,000 euros), with Bedő receiving the largest fine in the history of the Hungarian parliament—24 million forints (60,000 euros).
On March 17, Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party introduced a bill in parliament to ban LGBTQ+ Pride events, imposing fines on organizers and participants. The law was passed the next day with 136 votes in favor and 27 against. In response, mass protests erupted in Budapest against the restrictions on the right to assembly and the ban on Pride events.
