Anti-Government Demonstration in Budapest

The All for Hungary Movement demonstrated at Jászai Mari Square on the Pest side of the Margaret Bridge in Budapest on Saturday, the state news agency MTI reports. People gathered to protest against the recently announced government ‘austerity’ measures that run contrary to the election promises of the governing Fidesz party.

On the social media page of the event, called "Wake up, Hungary! - Stand up for the victims of the system", the organizers wrote that they represent the interests of small business taxpayers, teachers, policemen, health workers, pensioners and all those who they believe are "destined to misery" by the Orbán system.

At the demonstration, Péter Márki-Zay, chairman of the All Hungary Movement, claimed that this week of austerity was Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's "speech on his deathbed". In a hundred days, Fidesz has proved all its campaign promises to be lies, he said.

The largest governing party accused the opposition of wanting to abolish the capped prices in public utility bills, but in the end, it was Fidesz that did so, Péter Márki-Zay said. He added that anyone who still believes the lies of Fidesz is beyond redemption. He also stated that they stand up for all Hungarians and fight against corruption of all kinds.

Socialist Party MP Zoltán Vajda criticized the fact that in next year's budget inflation was planned at 5.2%, while it is currently at 12%. The government is planning "terrible austerity measures" for this year and next, he said.

He added that if the government stopped "industrial-scale theft" [of public funds], all disputes with the European Union would be resolved.

The reason for the significant deterioration of the value of the Hungarian currency, the forint, against the euro and the US dollar is not the Russian-Ukrainian war: it is, in fact, "Fidesz election inflation", caused by what the ‘discredited government’, Zoltán Vajda said.

He stated that a comprehensive anti-corruption package is needed, a global minimum tax should be adopted and welfare spending should be increased.

Police said on its website that a small group of people leaving the rally went up to Margaret Bridge and occupied the roadway at the Pest end of the bridge. The crowd later moved towards Nyugati Square, blocking tramlines.