Hungary: Anti-government rally in Budapest April 14

Event

An anti-government demonstration is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 14, in Budapest. According to local sources, demonstrators are expected to rally at 17:30 (local time) in front of the National Opera House, before marching to Kossuth Lajos Square. The demonstration has been organized to protest the victory of controversial Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's party in the April 8 parliamentary elections. An increased security presence and associated transportation disruptions are expected in the vicinity of all gatherings.

Context

In the April 8 parliamentary elections, Viktor Orbán's ruling Fidesz party and coalition partner Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP) preserved its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly. Orbán, in office since 2010, has come under fire in the past for controversial positions on immigration (particularly concerning Muslim migrants) and the European Union, among other issues.

Advice

Individuals in Budapest are advised to avoid all protests, to prepare for associated traffic disruptions, and to adhere to all orders issued by local authorities.