An estimated 200,000 people took to the streets of Budapest on Saturday as part of the 30th Pride parade in the Hungarian capital. These record numbers, which far exceeded the previous record turnout of 35,000, were in spite of a government ban imposed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, which marked a major pushback against LGBTQ rights in the European Union.

The governing coalition amended its law and the country’s constitution earlier this year to prohibit the annual celebration, citing “child protection” to justify the years-long clampdown on LGBTQ rights. However, the opposition-run Budapest city hall decided to co-host the march so it could go ahead regardless. While Mr Orban said on Friday that police would not break up the Pride march, he did warn that those who took part should be aware of “legal consequences”.

Parade organisers risk up to a year in prison, while attendees can face fines up to €500 (£433). The recent legal changes mean that authorities also have the power to use facial-recognition technology to identify participants, with cameras recently installed on lamp posts along the parade route. According to France24, dozens of European lawmakers also attended in defiance of the ban.

Szabolcs Pek, lead analyst at research centre Iranytu Institute, described the parade as a “big embarrassment” for Mr Orban’s Fidesz party, adding that it would be difficult for it to respond to the high turnout.

Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs, in a post on X after the march, claimed the opposition staged the parade “at Brussels’ command”.

“With Pride, the opposition incited against laws they don’t like, mocked Hungary’s sovereignty, and — with foreign backing — tried to force woke culture onto us,” he wrote.

According to AFP journalists at the scene, marchers repeatedly had to pause to wait for police to stop traffic, all amid scorching temperatures.

“I am proud to be gay and I am very scared that the government wants to bring us down,” one participant, 66-year-old Zoltan, told AFP. “I am very surprised that there are so many people, I want to cry.”

Since Mr Orban returned to power in 2010, Hungary, home to 9.6 million people, has been steadily rolling back LGBTQ rights. It has become the first EU nation to ban a Pride march, with Mr Orban saying he has been emboldened by the anti-diversity push by US President Donald Trump. However, earlier this week, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called on the Hungarian authorities to reverse the ban on the march. 33 nations, including most EU countries, also released statements in support of the march.

Some people also gathered along the route to protest LGBTQ rights, in demonstrations called by far-right groups, one of which featured a wooden cross adorned with protest messages. One woman, who gave only her first name, Katalin, told AFP she agreed with the ban, though she didn’t want any clashes: “Disgusting… it’s become a fad to show off ourselves,” she said.