Orbán Calls for Peaceful 'Anti-Autocracy' Protest in Budapest on Thursday
- 8 Jul 2026 10:06 AM
Former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the leader of opposition Fidesz, called on everyone to participate in Thursday’s demonstration in Budapest organised by his party "against autocracy," adding that former President Janos Ader will deliver a speech at the demonstration.
"We call on every responsible-minded Hungarian to be there in front of Sandor Palace at 6pm on Thursday, so that together, peacefully, we can raise our voices against autocracy," Orban said on Facebook.
"What is happening to the President of the Republic [Tamas Sulyok] today could happen to anyone tomorrow," he said. "Anyone the prime minister doesn’t like is intimidated, threatened and fired from their job. Enough is enough!" Orban added.
Janos Lazar, the former construction and transport minister, is listed in a link under the post as the demonstration's organiser, alongside Fidesz.
The demonstration is being called in opposition to the "autocratic rule of the Tisza government," following Prime Minister Peter Magyar's submission of the 17th amendment proposal to the Fundamental Law, which "dismantles the rule of law and institutionalises autocracy," it said.
"With the stroke of a pen, they would remove the President of the Republic, dismiss the Constitutional Court judges and restrict the right to vote," it said.
"They think they can do whatever they want. Come join us, let’s protest together against autocracy!" it added.
Govt: 'Tired opposition' calls boycott of parliament
Parties of the opposition "got tired of obstruction" and have instead "called for a boycott of parliament", the government's press office said on Wednesday, citing a Facebook post from Prime Minister Peter Magyar.
The prime minister, who is currently attending a NATO summit in Ankara, said that the opposition had launched a fight "against autocracy" and were "prepared to extend a debate in the morning hours ... but they got tired at 11pm and announced their boycott of the session."
MTI Stock Photo
Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881.
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