In a move stirring controversy over respect for national sovereignty and legal jurisdiction, the Dutch parliament has supported a motion calling on Cabinet members to participate in Budapest’s banned Pride march next month. The event, which violates Hungarian law, has been outlawed under legislation passed in March by Hungary’s elected government.
The motion, proposed by the left-liberal Volt party, received backing from coalition partners VVD, NSC, and BBB. Only the PVV—the largest party in the Dutch coalition—voted against the measure, standing alone in defence of national sovereignty and non-intervention.
Hungary’s democratically elected parliament introduced the Pride ban citing concerns over public order and cultural values. Under the new legislation, participants in unauthorized Pride events face a 500 euro fine. Despite the legal restrictions, organizers are continuing preparations for what would be the 30th annual Pride march in Budapest, though no permit has been formally requested.
Volt MP Marieke Koekkoek urged the Cabinet to openly defy the Hungarian law by sending officials to the event, claiming it would affirm ‘European values’. Critics, however, see this as an unnecessary provocation and a violation of another EU member state’s legal decisions.
Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans, filling in for the foreign minister, expressed caution. He warned that overt political gestures could backfire and complicate the situation for local event organizers. ‘Once a permit is requested and granted, we can assess our involvement,’ he said, adding that premature political posturing could play directly into the hands of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party.
While some MPs have already vowed to attend, the Cabinet has not confirmed participation. Still, the motion has raised broader concerns about the Netherlands using diplomatic channels to pressure an EU partner into aligning with Dutch ideological positions—particularly on issues of cultural identity and national governance.
Despite previous condemnations of Hungary’s stance on LGBTQ issues, the Dutch government now faces the delicate question of whether to respect another nation’s laws or escalate a symbolic protest in a foreign capital.
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