DK to stage demonstration against ‘Orbán regime’ – UPDATE

The opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) will stage a demonstration for “a European Hungary” on Sunday in coordination with the Socialist Party, a DK spokesman said on Thursday, in the aftermath of an EP vote on the Sargentini report.

As we wrote, members of the European Parliament in a vote on Wednesday approved the Sargentini report that finds the rule of law in Hungary wanting, read more HERE.

The European Parliament “delivered the Orbán regime a historic defeat” by approving the report, which criticises the state of the rule of law in Hungary, in a vote on Wednesday, Zsolt Gréczy told a press conference.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been defeated in Europe, while the Hungarian people have won, he said. The demonstration will be staged to make it clear that “the fight for a European Hungary is not over … On the contrary, it is just to gain impetus,” Gréczy said.

The spokesman said Democratic Coalition was in talks on joining forces with the Socialist Party, which also plans to hold a demonstration on Sunday.

Gréczy said DK would welcome other opposition parties, which voted in favour of the Sargentini report. as well as civil organisations to join.

The time and the venue of the demonstration will be announced after reaching an agreement with the Socialists, Gréczy said.

UPDATE

The Socialist and Párbeszéd parties confirmed they were in talks with DK on holding a joint demonstration “for a European Hungary” on Sunday, their leaders told a press conference today.

Gergely Karácsony, Párbeszéd’s co-leader, said the opposition should stand united and join ordinary protesters.

He said the Fidesz government had done everything it could to dismantle checks and balances over the past eight years. The only counterweights to Orbán’s “corrupt” government able to protect people’s rights are the EU and ordinary people, he said, adding that all those who want a European Hungary were invited to join the demonstration.

Commenting on the Sargentini report, Bertalan Tóth, the Socialist leader, said the report condemned the Orbán government rather than the country. He said the vote’s outcome was important signal that European politicians had decided “to defend Hungary against its own government”.

Tóth said the two parties would re-submit to parliament earlier proposals on matters criticised in the Sargentini report that aim to restore the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary and the media, as well as proposals on eliminating corruption.

Source: MTI