Ahead of next year’s elections, Budapest’s largest-ever pro-LGBTQ+ march offers a glimpse into the uncertainty of Hungary’s polarised politics.

Three former Green MEPs recount their efforts to stop the erosion of liberal democracy in Hungary.

Across Europe, the far right is gaining ground at the ballot box, fuelling the sense that societies are shifting steadily to the right. Yet according to sociologist Vincent Tiberj, this perception may be misleading: while political elites and media coverage have pivoted rightward, many citizens – especially younger generations – have become more tolerant on issues such as gender equality, minority rights, and cultural diversity. If electoral outcomes increasingly reflect unequal participation and a crisis of political representation, what does this mean for the Left and for participatory democracy?