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PM Orbán called Roma protesters at a public forum “organised criminals”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has described Roma protesters who disrupted a public forum held by Construction and Transport Minister János Lázár as “organised criminals”, fuelling accusations of stigmatisation and political scapegoating amid an already heated domestic debate.
Roma protesters disrupted Lázár’s forum, PM Orbán called them criminals
The controversy began on Thursday in Gyöngyös, where around a dozen Roma protesters interrupted Lázár’s public forum, demanding his resignation. Their protest followed remarks made by the minister a week earlier, in which he suggested that members of Hungary’s Roma community could represent a “domestic labour reserve” for cleaning work on InterCity trains. The comments sparked widespread backlash and accusations of racism, prompting Lázár to issue a public apology.
Government-aligned daily Magyar Nemzet soon claimed that the protesters were activists linked to the opposition Tisza Party and later alleged, citing unnamed local sources, that several participants had criminal records. As Telex reported, these claims were subsequently echoed by both Lázár and Orbán on social media as established facts.
A video emerged, listing the crimes the protesters allegedly committed
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Orbán listed a range of serious crimes allegedly committed by those involved, including robbery, assault and even homicide, calling them “the apostles of love” from the Tisza Party. Speaking later the same day at a Digital Civic Circles (Digitális Polgári Körök, DPK) event in Hatvan, the prime minister said he had never before seen “criminals, organised into gangs, sent by a political party to disrupt a peaceful gathering in order to intimidate Fidesz supporters”.
Orbán also claimed to have personally reviewed the protesters’ criminal records, stating that some had committed more offences than their age would suggest, though he did not explain how he had accessed such information.
Tisza Party denies sending these people to the forum
The Tisza Party firmly denied any involvement. In a written response, party representatives said only two or three of the Roma individuals present were known to them and insisted that party members had been explicitly asked to avoid the Gyöngyös event to prevent confrontation. According to the statement, the government was attempting to divert attention from Lázár’s “offensive remarks” by provoking and politicising the incident.
One of the protesters also rejected the accusations on social media, describing the demonstrators as “ordinary fathers and grandfathers” standing up against what he called ongoing humiliation. He accused the government of intimidation and character assassination, arguing that speaking out against those in power should not justify collective labelling.
Independent MP András Jámbor criticised Orbán’s rhetoric, saying it reflected a broader pattern in which Roma protesters are automatically portrayed as criminals. Meanwhile, Roma activist Ádám Lakatos has announced a demonstration in Budapest in solidarity with the Roma community, stressing that “Roma identity is not synonymous with stereotypes”.
Featured image: Orbán Viktor/Facebook
“Orbán listed a range of serious crimes allegedly committed by those involved…”
Typical right wing extremist behavior – handing out verdicts before any investigation has even begun. Totalitarian dictatorship mentality, and it will only get worse if these Fidesz people are still allowed to rule another term.
So if the prime minister reveiws public judicial documents about someone convicted, that makes him a right wing extremist…
Right…..
So you sre saying:”Are you literate? That’s extremism. Can you count? That’s extremism. Are you normal? That’s extremisim. Can you access public records? That’s extremism.”
So basically according to you, someone is an extremist, or a liar? Well, I am no liar.
Do I care, that you can’t hamdle the truth? No, not really. It’s your problem. And I am in no mood to make an asshole out of my mouth to accomodate your delusions.
“So if the prime minister reveiws public judicial documents about someone convicted, that makes him a right wing extremist…”
Nope, I did not write like that.
I wrote this: “handing out verdicts before any investigation has even begun”.
If you cant see the difference between what I wrote and your own interpretation, I cant help you.
Oh my, DNH, are you “victim blaming”?
The minorities were the agresseors, that’s a fact. They are convicted criminals. That’s also a fact. And they were organised. That is also a fact.
So do you blame the victim of an agression for highlighting basic facts?
How does this compare to your “Evil Fidesz supporter chased the poor Tisza activists out of the house with an axe” article?
Oh, that man wasn’t a minority, and you are racist agains Hungarians, so that’s why the different approach. Minorities are allowed to be violent. Thry are Hungarians don’t. They are the “nobles” of globalism, I see.
Let’s hope you stop agitating the majority, before you reach a French Revolution kind of backlash.
“They are convicted criminals. That’s also a fact. And they were organised. That is also a fact.”
Nope, these are not facts. These were allegations made by Fidesz leaders before any investigation happened, clearly said in the article.
I hope there will be an investigation that will bring out facts.
This really is a test for Hungarian society. Is the promotion of racism going to help you get elected? If so Hungary is doomed. I stay hopeful that the majority of Hungarians are normal people who won’t subscribe to the evil pushed by Lazar and now Orban. This really is shameful for the country.
Orbán’s minister did a terrble mistakey!
The Roma communit respones !
Fidesz calims that Tisza party is behind this!!
Very naieve arguments !!!
Again Fidesz loses another portion of Hungarians!!!
See you in April