Hungarian protesters call on tax chief to resign over corruption scandal

Protesters have demanded the resignation of the head of Hungary's tax collection agency and some of her colleagues after the United States issued entry bans against them because of suspected links to corruption.

More than 10,000 people took part in the evening march in downtown Budapest, going from the headquarters of the tax authority to the Economy Ministry, which oversees it.

Gabor Vago, a former lawmaker from the Politics Can Be Different party, demanded the resignation of Ildiko Vida and her deputies and called on the European Union to investigate the tax authority, "since the domestic institutions have failed".

"If they don't resign by the 17th, we will have to consider the best methods of civil disobedience to force the government to back down," Vago said.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party comfortably won three elections this year - parliamentary, municipal and for the European legislature.

However, Orban is facing strong criticism for his efforts to centralise power and impose his vision of an "illiberal state", and last month the government shelved a planned tax on internet use after tens of thousands protested against the levy.