Protesters at the demo organised by the Tanítanék Movement also criticised the government for what they said was treatment of civil groups as enemies.

The government should “listen to those groups, even if their position is not f lattering,” they said.

At a press conference held to coincide with the protest, a deputy of the co-ruling Christian Democrats said that the protest would not do any good to the case of education and insisted that the organisers were sponsored by Hungarian-born US financier George Soros.

István Hollik said that the protesters only used education as an excuse for attacking the government; they were “using foreign money” and supporting “foreign powers”.

“While they are protesting, the government is working”, Hollik said, arguing that the government was implementing “the largest pay hike for teachers” since 1989.

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

MTI photo: Balogh Zoltán