Budapest protest led by MP Hadházy challenges controversial assembly law changes

Another demonstration was held in Budapest on Tuesday at the initiative of independent lawmaker Ákos Hadházy, calling for the withdrawal of amendments to Hungary’s assembly law.

At the demonstration held at downtown Ferenciek Square, Hadházy said the reduced number of participants at the ninth demonstration on the issue would “fill the propaganda and … those of little faith with joy.”

“I don’t recommend that they rejoice … this means that the law will, for the time being, remain in place … the point of which is not banning the Pride march but to enable sanctioning people at banned protests possibly held after a rigged election or maybe after an opposition politician had been taken away,” he said.

He said the protests so far had succeeded in “unsettling those in power”. “The spring cleaning announced by the prime minister has stalled, there are as yet no banned journalists or TV channels and dual citizens or politicians have as yet not be expelled, because, although they are preparing to do so, we have stalled that rhythm.”

Another “minor result”, Hadházy said, was that public discourse now included “guess-work on whether elections could be rigged or whether a party could be banned from running.”