US Mayors Join European Pact of Free Cities to Counter Democratic Backsliding

Mayors from ten US cities, including Boston, Chicago, San Antonio, and Cincinnati, have formally joined the Pact of Free Cities, a European network founded in 2019 to promote progressive values and strategies against hostile national governments.

The annual meeting took place in Bratislava, Slovakia, where the US mayors cited concerns about democratic backsliding under the Trump administration as their primary motivation for joining.

"If Democrat mayors spent half as much time prioritizing the safety and security of their own citizens instead of participating in TDS publicity stunts, their residents would be much better served." — White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson

Why US Mayors Joined

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval said he joined the pact because of actions by the Trump administration that he views as undermining democratic institutions and international relationships.

Beaverton, Oregon Mayor Lacey Beaty noted that the meeting highlighted common challenges among cities, such as federal funding cuts due to political disagreements. She cited a specific instance where the Trump administration sought to cut funding to Beaverton over its DEI policy.

Lessons from Europe: Orbán's Defeat

Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony shared insights from the recent defeat of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who lost his election in March 2025 after 16 years in power.

According to Karácsony, a key turning point came when the city took over the annual Pride parade after a government ban attempt, framing it as a broader issue of free speech and assembly. He stated that tens of thousands participated, exposing political weakness and contributing to Orbán's eventual election loss.

Responses from Conservative Groups

CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp noted that conservative groups have also built international ties. He cited Nigel Farage as an example of mainstreaming blunt immigration discourse. While questioning whether European mayors would learn from US counterparts given crime and homelessness issues, Schlapp conceded that organizing across borders could be useful for grassroots support.

Background

The Pact of Free Cities was founded in 2019 by the mayors of Bratislava, Budapest, Prague, and Warsaw. Its mission is to share strategies on defending democracy and combating authoritarianism at the local level, particularly against national government pressures.

Notably, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) has held five meetings in Budapest, building ties with right-wing populists in Europe.