“Skinheads” earlier this year prevented the opposition Socialists from submitting a referendum initiative against Sunday shopping restrictions, she noted, adding that last week, the same group of men beat up people who had been peacefully demonstrating against the Liget Project in the City Park.

Police have not taken action against them despite recent reports that security guards had even used gas spray against the police, she said. Vadai, who sits in parliament as an independent, asked Pintér whether any high-ranking Fidesz politicians had instructed the police not to take action against the “skinhead goons”.

Demolition works started in City Park in the face of protests by environmentalists last week, after the company responsible for new building developments in the park, Városliget Zrt, said that the area occupied by activists protesting against the Liget Budapest project was now legally under its control.

Last Wednesday, police removed activists from the Hungexpo site, where they had been camped for over a hundred days in protest against the planned works, including chopping down trees.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Balogh Zoltán