Protesters gathering in downtown Budapest on Tuesday evening demanded a change of regime and a “new Hungarian republic”. Similar anti-government demonstrations were held in other cities including Szeged, Nyíregyháza, Miskolc and Szombathely. Speakers at the demonstration in József Nádor Square of Budapest organised by civil organisations declared that the main goal of the protest was to bring together the various groups that had been taking action against the government’s policies in the recent past.
The crowd then moved towards the Pest embankment and Kossuth Square in front of Parliament, where László Mendrey, head of teachers’ union PDSZ, criticised the government’s public education policy, and called on participants to “stop that insane destruction”. He also said that he thought a public education strike could not be avoided. Emma Krasznahorkai, of the “We won’t keep silent!” Facebook group, called for a new electoral system, and called for an alternative parliament and government to be set up.
Previously Socialists (MSZP) party leader had said that the opposition would seek “cooperative partnership” with anti-government protesters. The Socialists aim to represent the initiatives and criticism expressed at the demonstrations and the party should “step up efforts to be present in all walks of society” and focus on the main challenges faced by society, József Tóbiás said.
via hungarymatters.hu photo: Zsolt Szigetváry – MTI