Karácsony wore a t-shirt with the city's coat of arms in rainbow colors when he arrived for the hearing. If the mayor, who belongs to the Green party Dialogue for Hungary, is prosecuted and convicted, he risks up to one year in prison for having organized a prohibited demonstration.
The organizers stated that more than 200,000 people participated in the parade on June 28, which they claimed was a protest against Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's long-standing dismantling of LGBTQ rights.
After the nationalist prime minister declared that he wanted to stop this year's celebration, his government coalition in parliament adopted new laws that prohibit the annual parade.
Budapest's city hall then chose to become co-organizers of the event. The idea was that the police could not ban a municipal arrangement.
Prior to the march, Orbán warned organizers and participants of "legal consequences". But the police announced last month that there will be no repercussions for the participants, who otherwise could have risked fines of up to 500 euro for having participated in the parade.
