Péter Magyar beats Viktor Orbán in Hungary – is it a win for LGBTQ+ rights?

Péter Magyar has declared “we over threw the Hungarian regime” after defeating Viktor Orbán in the Hungary election.

Orbán, a close ally of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, had introduced a number of unpopular policies during his time as Hungary’s Prime Minister. His party, Fidesz, lost by a landslide to Magyar’s Tisza.

Magyar wanted to move Hungary away from its close ties to Russia, to bring the country closer to the EU and Ukraine.

His win follows the Hungarian Parliament banning Pride events in March last year. A bill passed which banned holding or attending assemblies that violated child protection laws – promoting or displaying homosexuality or gender diversity to under-18s.

Punishments ranged from 6,500 forints (£15/$21) to 200,000 forints (£475/$638), or up to a year in prison for organisers.

Protests followed and Budapest Pride went ahead on 28 June despite the ban, with up to 200,000 people in attendance. Many of those who went attended to support the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary, but to also defend democracy.

A smaller Pride march was held in the rural city of Pécs on 4 October, with organiser Geza Buzas-Habel now facing criminal charges.

LGBTQ+ rights in Hungary

Homosexuality is legal in Hungary. Same-sex marriage is banned, though registered partnership for same-sex couples became legal in 2009. This gives same-sex couples the same rights as married couples, apart for with adoption, assisted reproduction or taking a surname.

In 2021, an anti-LGBTQ+ law was introduced which banned the “promotion” of homosexuality or gender change to those under 18 on “child protection” grounds.

Films and television shows that featured homosexuality or gender diversity were also given the same age restrictions as horror, drugs, violence and other adult themes.

Then, the ban on Pride marches came in 2025.

Péter Magyar’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights

Péter Magyar said following the pride ban that the government passed the bill to distract attention from Hungarians who were suffering around the country.

He said that if the Tisza Party was elected, they would protect the right of assembly.

However, Magyar has been criticised for not outwardly speaking about LGBTQ+ rights specifically. It’s reported that his campaign for the election did not include significant changes to policies which Orbán was criticised for – including conservative LGBTQ+ rights.

Speaking to AFP ahead of the election, rights activist Geza Buzas-Habel said: “The main opposition [Magyar] is unwilling to communicate on LGBTQ rights, so we must pressure them.”

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