In Hungary, violent street protests against Viktor Orban’s regime are growing
- Protests in the past week have been the most violent in Hungary for over a decade
- Hungary’s opposition parties have vowed to emulate the French Yellow Vest movement
Thousands of Hungarians rallied in Budapest on Sunday in the fourth and largest protest in a week against what they see as the increasingly authoritarian rule of right-wing nationalist Viktor Orban.
Braving sub-zero temperatures, setting off flares and waving Hungarian and European Union flags, about 15,000 demonstrators walked from historic Heroes’ Square towards parliament and then state TV in a march dubbed “Merry Xmas Mr. Prime Minister”.
The march was largely peaceful until police fired tear gas at protesters jostling outside the TV station late at night.
Footage showed people crouching and blinded by the gas.
It was the first rally since Orban returned to power in 2010 to bring together all opposition parties, from greens to the far right, under the same banner.
Protesters demanded a free media, withdrawal of a labour law increasing overtime, and an independent judiciary.