Tens of thousands protested against the government of Viktor Orban in downtown Budapest on Saturday, led by a lawyer formerly close to the administration who recently launched a political movement that aims to challenge the prime minister.
Quick Read
- Mass Protest in Budapest: Tens of thousands marched against Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government in downtown Budapest, expressing their dissatisfaction with the current leadership.
- New Political Movement: The protest was spearheaded by Peter Magyar, a lawyer formerly affiliated with Orban’s administration, who has initiated a political movement aiming to challenge Orban.
- National Symbols Reclaimed: Protesters proudly displayed Hungary’s national colors and flag, symbols that have been closely associated with Orban’s party, asserting that these belong to the nation, not the government.
- Insider Appeal: Participants were drawn to Magyar due to his insider perspective on the Orban government, hoping his firsthand knowledge could offer a new direction.
- Corruption Concerns: Protesters voiced worries about corruption within the government, with some citing Magyar’s revelations as confirmation of their suspicions.
- Demand for Change: Many expressed a desire for significant changes, particularly in the healthcare and education sectors, hoping the protests could signal a shift in the political landscape.
- Magyar’s Accusations: Peter Magyar accused a senior member of Orban’s team of manipulating government operations, based on his close connections and personal experiences within the ruling party.
- Legal Investigations: Magyar’s allegations have led to official investigations, adding to the political challenges facing Orban, especially with the upcoming European parliamentary elections.
- Public Response: Preliminary polls suggest a growing awareness and potential support for Magyar’s emerging political party among Hungarian voters.
The Associated Press has the story:
Tens of thousands march in Budapest against PM Victor Orbán
Newslooks- BUDAPEST, (AP)
Tens of thousands protested against the government of Viktor Orban in downtown Budapest on Saturday, led by a lawyer formerly close to the administration who recently launched a political movement that aims to challenge the prime minister.
Protesters marched to parliament in the unusually warm spring weather, some of them shouting “we are not scared” and “Orban resign!”
Many wore the red-white-green national colours or carried the national flag, symbols that Orban’s party used as their own for the past two decades.
“These are the national colours of Hungary, not the government’s,” said 24-year-old Lejla, who travelled to Budapest from Sopron, a town on the country’s western border.
The march was led by Peter Magyar, 43, who used to be married to Orban’s former justice minister Judit Varga and who eventually plans to launch his own party.
Three protesters interviewed by AP said Magyar appealed to them because he had been close to the Orban government and has an inside knowledge of how it works.
“We had known that there is corruption, but he says it as an insider and confirmed it for us,” said Zsuzsanna Szigeti, a 46-year-old healthcare worker wearing a Hungarian flag that covered her entire body.
She said she was concerned about the education and the healthcare systems, and worried about corruption. “I trust that there will be a change,” she said.
Magyar became widely known in February when he delivered incendiary comments about the inner workings of the government. He accused Antal Rogan, the minister who leads Orban’s office, of running a centralised propaganda machine.00:27Russia strikes Kharkiv as attacks on Ukraine intensify
He also published a recording of a conversation with his ex-wife where Varga detailed an attempt by a senior aide to Orban’s cabinet chief to interfere in a graft case. Prosecutors are now investigating the statements.
The probe comes at a politically sensitive time for Orban ahead of European parliamentary elections in June, and follows a sex abuse scandal that brought down two of his key political allies – the former president and Varga – in February.
According to data by pollster Median, published by news weekly HVG in mid-March, 68% of voters have heard of Magyar’s entry into the political field and 13% of those said that they were likely to support his party.
