Thousands of Hungarians protest against Orban’s media control
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Around 10,000 Hungarians protested in Budapest on Saturday against government control over the media, which they say helped Prime Minister Viktor Orban to a landslide election victory earlier this month.
The rally was the second mass protest against Orban since the April 8 election, with demonstrators urging the fragmented opposition parties to join forces against the right-wing nationalist Fidesz party, which won twothirds of parliamentary seats at the polls.
In a Facebook post before the rally, organizers said state media has been turned into Orban’s “propaganda machine.”
“Our main goal is to dismantle Fidesz control over the public media..., but opposition parties also have a task as they are also responsible for this situation we are in,” they said. “Together with them, we must fight for a new, just and fair election law and an investigation of corruption cases.”
Protesters gathered at the parliament, waving national and European Union flags.
Orban won a third straight term in power after a strong anti-immigration campaign.
Since 2010, the Hungarian premier has increased his control over the media and put allies in charge of formerly independent institutions, while his stand on refusing to accept large numbers of migrants in Hungary has brought him into conflict with the EU.
The foundation of Budapest-born US financier George Soros on Friday accused Orban of trying to stifle nongovernment groups, and said it could leave the country if parliament passes a “Stop Soros” law that would impose a 25% tax on foreign donations to NGOs that support migration.
The government says the legislation is meant to deter illegal immigration.
Critics of Orban said a departure of the Open Society Foundations would mark a milestone in a slide toward authoritarian rule.