Bucharest Anti-LGBTQI Rally
Hundreds gather in Bucharest for far-right organized anti-LGBTQI rights protest
Hundreds of people from across Romania marched through Bucharest on Saturday under the banner 'Somos la mayoría' ('We Are the Majority'), rallying against LGBTQI+ rights in a counter-demonstration organized by the far-right group Noua Dreapta (New Right) and the ultranationalist party SOS Romania. El Periódico reported that controversial MEP Diana Șoșoacă, whose presidential bids were twice blocked, took the stage to address the crowd.
The anti-LGBTQI+ march happened on the same day as the annual Bucharest Pride parade. While the counter-protest drew an estimated 400 to 600 people, according to Digi24, the Pride march drew tens of thousands — exposing a wide gap between far-right rhetoric and urban public opinion.
Far-Right Groups Lead Anti-LGBTQI+ March Through Bucharest
The 'March for Normalcy' kicked off at 10:30 AM in Piața Victoriei (Victory Square). Marchers carried religious icons, crosses, and banners. The route wound through Piața Romană, Universitate, and Piața Unirii before ending at Patriarchy Hill, according to Digi24.
Noua Dreapta has organized this counter-protest annually for two decades. This year, the group partnered with SOS Romania, Diana Șoșoacă's ultranationalist party. At the Patriarchy steps, Șoșoacă told the crowd that the 'traditional family is the only pillar of the Romanian state' and accused the EU of 'imposing an agenda that violates the sovereignty of the Romanian soul,' according to Digi24.
Șoșoacă Uses the March to Stay Politically Relevant
Diana Șoșoacă is a sitting MEP but has twice been blocked from running for president. In October 2024, Romania's Constitutional Court threw out her candidacy, citing her 'lack of attachment to democratic values' and pro-Russian rhetoric, according to AP News. A second bid in a 2025 election rerun was also rejected.
Political analysts say Șoșoacă uses the march to stay in the spotlight after being shut out of elections. Her presence turns what would be a small fringe protest into a high-profile far-right rally. The collaboration between SOS Romania and Noua Dreapta signals a growing consolidation of far-right forces ahead of Romania's 2028 legislative elections.
Bucharest Pride Dwarfs the Counter-Protest With Record Crowds
While the counter-march wrapped up by early afternoon, the Bucharest Pride parade began at 5:00 PM in Piața Victoriei. Estimates from HotNews put attendance at between 25,000 and 30,000 people — a record turnout. Victor Ciobotaru, executive director of the ACCEPT Association, said marchers came 'to demand legal protection and recognition for all families.'
The contrast in numbers was stark. The counter-protest drew hundreds; the Pride march drew tens of thousands. LGBTQI+ tourism also surged, with bookings in Bucharest up 30% compared to June 2025, driven largely by international visitors, according to Misterb&b.
Romania Still Has No Legal Protection for Same-Sex Couples
Romania is one of the last EU countries with no legal recognition of same-sex partnerships — not even civil unions. The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2023 that Romania must create a legal framework for same-sex couples. As of mid-2026, the Romanian Parliament has still not passed any such law.
Human rights groups warn this legal vacuum enables discrimination. ACCEPT has linked the rise in hate crimes during the 2024–2025 election cycle to inflammatory rhetoric from SOS Romania and Noua Dreapta, according to AP News. Romania also risks EU financial penalties if it continues to ignore the court ruling.
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