The event was originally not authorised but was held as part of a human rights demonstration.

In a speech addressing the participants including representatives of the opposition Democratic Coalition and Momentum parties, Pécs Mayor Attila Peterffy expressed his support for the banned Pride parade and his opposition to the violation of civil liberties.

"I am here because if I don't speak up today, tomorrow there will be nowhere to speak, no one to speak to, and nothing to discuss. I am here because silence today is no longer neutrality, but defeat and resignation, and I do not want to resign myself," he said.

He said that civil organisations were holding the Pécs community together today, "when everything else around us is falling apart," and that "without them there is no democracy and no free Pécs".

"When I stand up for Pécs Pride, I stand up for freedom, democracy, and civil courage," he added.

Nicu Stefanuţa, Romanian Vice-President of the European Parliament, said at a press conference prior to the march that Europe stood for freedom, and that he had come to Pecs in the company of several MEPs to defend European values and freedom, which were also important to Hungarians. He added that his message to the Hungarian government was that "nothing lasts forever and politics also changes".

Terry Reintke, a German MEP, said that they had come to show solidarity and stand up for the rights of Hungarian citizens, because the right of assembly is a fundamental right of all EU citizens.

Meanwhile, Dobrev: Hungary's future 'not in fear but courage'

"Hungary's future will not be born in fear but in courage," the head of opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) told a rally in Budapest on Sunday, introducing the party's 106 candidates for next year's election.

Klara Dobrev said ruling Fidesz "knows that the end is near ... they will fail over the sleaze, hatred, and wickedness they have promoted". She insisted Fidesz was "not campaigning but threatening its adversaries ... shaking its sword and sowing terror, and some will be terrified and hide," adding that "but those fearing publicity will not be able to counter those in power."

Concerning her party's programme, Dobrev said DK would "never again grant full power to anyone". DK does not believe that "if a bad king is replaced by another bad king, that would resolve all problems; DK wants to eliminate monarchy." Should DK win next year's election, it would prepare a new, "democratic" constitution, she added.

On the subject of the economy, she said DK would insist on introducing an European minimum wage and making minimum incomes tax free. On the other hand, wages over 2.5 million forints (EUR 6,400) a month would be subject to higher taxes, Dobrev added.

As for energy, DK would support renewables and reintroduce a government programme aimed to help pre-fab owners insulate their homes, she said.

Meanwhile, Dobrev said her party would uphold 13th month pensions, free travel for seniors, and annual pension corrections with regard to inflation. The lowest pensions would also be raised by up to 50 percent, she added.

Dobrev pledged assistance to ailing forex mortgage holders, and said "if somebody loses their job, gets sick or suffers a family disaster they should not be facing foreclosure procedures in which the bank takes the house or a liquidator seizes their salary."

On the subject of ethnic Hungarians, Dobrev repeated her party's earlier position that Hungarians in neighbouring countries should be stripped of their voting rights in Hungary.

DK, if it formed the next government, would reinforce the child protection system, ensure more financing to such services and restore municipal control over district nurses, as well as put more emphasis on early intervention. "We will not cover up for paedophiles and their accomplices, or grant them pardon or decorate them; we want to see each of them in prison, no matter how high connections they might have," Dobrev said.

Dobrev said her party would lift abortion restrictions and provide easier access to contraception. It would also ratify the Istanbul Convention, and introduce an automatic application of restraint in case of domestic violence, she added. DK would build at least 10,000 municipally owned homes, and utilise at least half of them as controlled rent units for needy families.

Concerning corruption, Dobrev said "stolen assets should not be taxed but must be frozen".

"We will not put up a new flag on the old castle, we will destroy the castle [Prime Minister] Viktor Orban built," Dobrev said, and called for dismantling the regime and "return the state to citizens."

 

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.

Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.

XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

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