demonstration

PHOTOS: students, teachers, parents demonstrated for a better education

Student protest Budapest education

A demonstration organised by students was held for public education and teachers in front of the interior ministry in Budapest on Friday evening.

The participants at the demonstration organised by the “Students for Teachers” Facebook group demanded immediate wage increases as a solution to the shortage of teachers. They also demanded professional autonomy for teachers, teaching material that is “teachable and learnable”, “liveable schools” and a genuine dialogue about public education.

Student protest Budapest education
Photo: Szilárd Koszticsák/MTI

Demonstrators gathered at Heroes’ Square and made their way along Andrassy Boulevard and Jozsef Attila Street to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the ministry at Szechenyi Square. They carried a banner reading “We are with our teachers” at the front. Student speakers at the square insisted that “education is a national issue”, saying they were proud of their teachers who stood up for the cause of education.

Budapest traffic changes
Read alsoStreets to be closed, traffic to change in Budapest!
Student protest Budapest education
Photo: Szilárd Koszticsák/MTI

“These teachers teach us what is missing most in Hungary today: courage”. They criticised school district leaders for “sacking” or threatening with such a reprimand teachers who participate in an act of civil disobedience, and burned copies of dismissal letters.

Student protest Budapest education
Photo: Szilárd Koszticsák/MTI

Many of the demonstrators carried Hungarian and EU flags and flags symbolising chequered shirts, an outfit that has become associated with teacher demonstrations. They held up banners reading “To strike is a fundamental right”.

Teachers' protest on Budapest's Kossuth square in front of the parliament
Read alsoHungarian teachers’ unions call for appointing commissioner for education

KTK: ‘Left hindering pay hike for teachers’

The government is committed to further increasing salaries for teachers, while “it is the leftist parties that are hindering” its efforts, the government’s information centre (KTK) said in a statement on Friday.
Reacting to strike actions and demonstrations staged by teachers nationwide on Friday, the KTK underlined the government’s commitment to enacting “unprecedented pay hikes” as soon as the government agrees with the European Union on unlocking funding.

According to the statement, the government aims to raise teachers’ average salaries to 80 percent of the average of professionals in Hungary by 2025. The KTK added that teachers’ salaries could increase by 21 percent next year, 25 percent in 2024, and they could be 29-30 percent higher than their current wages in 2025.

Representatives of the leftist parties, however, “keep on working in Brussels to prevent Hungary from receiving the funds it is entitled to,” the statement said, adding that “a higher increase than earlier planned” could be financed from those monies.

Concerning the strikes, the KTK said that “legally organised strikes are a form of legitimate expression with no consequences”, adding that teachers “participating in a legal strike action” would face no penalties. Despite what leftist parties claim, the statement said, “there are no mass dismissals whatever” and “so far only 5 teachers who have repeatedly participated in illegal strikes have been dismissed.”

PHOTOS: Hello, Dictator! Demonstration against Viktor Orbán in Berlin

momentum germany demonstration

After beeing booed by protesters in Prague last Friday, Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán has met critical voices again – this time, in Berlin.

On Monday afternoon, more than 200 protesters waited for Viktor Orbán at the demonstration of the Freie Ungarische Botschaft, an organisation founded by Hungarians in Berlin, Telex reports. The demonstrators arrived at the Gendarmentmarkt in Berlin with mainly anti-Russian and pro-Ukrainian banners.

Below, you may see photos from the demonstration:

“The Freie Ungarische Botschaft, together with its German, Ukrainian and Hungarian partners in Berlin, not only vociferously rejected the autocratic and populist power-grab of the Hungarian Prime Minister, but also called on the host German Chancellor not to compromise with his pro-Putin interlocutor on the war in Ukraine,” they wrote.

Speaking at a forum on Hungarian-German economic relations, Orbán said that “Hungary has emerged from every crisis since 2010 – the 2008-2009 global economic crisis, the migration crisis and the Covid crisis – stronger than when it entered them”.

orbán prague demonstrators boo
Read alsoVideo: Orbán is booed by Prague protesters

Demonstration held at Parliament in solidarity with teachers

teacher demonstration

Supporters of the Tanítanék (I want to teach) and noÁr movements held a demonstration and concert in front of Parliament on Wednesday night to “save education and the future of youth” and to show solidarity with teachers demanding higher pay and strike rights.

Tanítanék founder Kata Törley called the government “arrogant and incapable of dialogue” and warned that an increasing shortage of teachers was threatening collapse and “bury all, teachers, parents, students, and children”. She insisted problems in education could not be resolved without restoring teachers’ strike rights and instant measures to improve teachers’ working conditions and grant them a payrise.

Teacher demonstration Budapest bridge
Read alsoVIDEO: teachers to occupy a Budapest bridge, traffic may collapse afternoon

Áron Molnár, founder of the noÁr movement, said the event was aimed at starting a strike fund for teachers.

Roma activist László Glonczi said strike was a fundamental right and called for joint action to demand a payrise for teachers and the freedom of expression.

Olivér Pilz, a Tanítanék co-founder, urged all trade unions to call a general strike to support teachers.

Participants held up signs including “No teachers, no future” and chanted “Free country! Free education!”

Teacher demonstration Budapest bridge (1)
Read alsoVIDEO: teachers, students occupied the Margaret Bridge in Budapest – UPDATED

VIDEO: teachers, students occupied the Margaret Bridge in Budapest – UPDATED

Teacher demonstration Budapest bridge (1)

Today is World Teachers’ Day, so the two main Hungarian trade unions, the PDSZ and the PSZ organised a demonstration for higher wages and a reduction of workload for today in Budapest. Students, teachers, parents and grandparents formed a live-chain for better education this morning in numerous places in Budapest. An hour ago they occupied the Margaret Bridge, one of the traffic hubs of the capital.

Budapest’s mayor, Gergely Karácsony, said earlier that he was on the side of the Hungarian teachers, so the capital’s community support officers would not interfere with the protesters. The question is what the police will do.

Here is a video:

Below you may read what the teachers would like to achieve with their protest and civil disobedience:

  • immediate and significant payrise (starting from 50 percent)
  • workload reduction
  • free choice of schoolbooks
  • changes regarding the National Curriculum.
  • independent ministry for education
  • renewal of some school buildings

Here you can read more about the background of today’s demonstration:

Teacher demonstration Budapest bridge
Read alsoVIDEO: teachers to occupy a Budapest bridge, traffic may collapse afternoon

UPDATE

Protesting students blocked central Budapest’s Margaret Bridge from traffic on Wednesday afternoon.
The demonstrators expressed support for striking teachers and a speaker called on participants to “recapture the hope and future together”. Participants chanted the slogan “no future without teachers” and held up a sign

“We stand by our teachers”.

Others held up the national colours, Szekler and Roma flags, as well as the flag of teachers’ trade union PDSZ. “Who is going to teach tomorrow?” the protesters wrote on a poster placed on the railing. The demonstrators occupied Jászai Mari Square and the eastern half of the bridge.

UPDATE: Unions express solidarity with teacher strike

Several trade unions voiced their solidarity with a nationwide strike organised by teachers’ union PDSZ across the country on Wednesday. Speaking in front of a Budapest primary school, Erzsebet Boross, the head of public servants’ union MKKSZ, expressed her union’s support for a demand for a 20 percent pay rise offsetting inflation to be paid retroactively from July 1. She voiced opposition to changes to occupational health and safety rules as well as the rule requiring state institutions to limit their heating to 18 degrees Celsius, MTI said.

Boross said the union demanded a right to strike that ensured fair wages and talks where the sides were considered equals. “We’ve had enough of public servants being condescended to and the fact that there are no consultations about working and living conditions or wage talks,” Boross said. She added that MKKSZ expected the government to treat public servants “as people . not as those on whom it can save money”.

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Read alsoHungarian universities must save money: 18°C inside, dormitories close

László Nagy, head of the strike committee at Budapest’s Kölcsey Ferenc Secondary School, said that although he was one of the 45 teachers at the school who were participating in today’s strike, he was still required by law to teach four of his six classes.

“This is not a strike. It’s impossible to stage a strike like this,” he said. “A strike can’t be sustained if it can’t be seen.”

PDSZ national board head Anna Komjáthy said that some 13,000-14,000 teachers from more than 200 schools had been projected to take part in Wednesday’s strike. She said PDSZ has called another strike for Oct. 14, noting that it was on this day a year ago when PDSZ presented its demands jointly with fellow teacher union PSZ. István Taskovics, head of social security workers’ union TBDSZ, criticised the decision to suspend the regulation requiring an indoor temperature range of 20-22 degrees Celsius for workers.

VIDEO: teachers to occupy a Budapest bridge, traffic may collapse afternoon

Teacher demonstration Budapest bridge

One of the Hungarian teachers’ unions announced a national strike for 5 October because of the high burdens and low salaries. The demonstration concerns kindergarten, elementary and secondary school teachers, and even some universities have joined the call. The Democratic Trade Union of Teachers (PDSZ) asked all teachers not to work today but to provide the minimum service prescribed by the law. PDSZ will submit their complaints with another teachers’ trade union (PSZ) in the afternoon to the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights. Furthermore, they plan to occupy a Budapest bridge at 5 PM.

Despite the double-digit inflation Hungary is struggling with, the soaring utility, food, etc. prices and the economic crisis, the Hungarian teachers have not received a wage hike for months. Meanwhile, many companies decided to increase wages during the summer because of the changing economic circumstances. Teacher salaries are between a gross of EUR 480 and EUR 989 based on the number of years a teacher spends in the public education system and the category they are in. A beginner bus driver in Budapest receives an almost EUR 1,000 net salary.

Therefore, teachers have been fighting for a payrise for months, but with little success. Furthermore, they aim for a workload reduction, free choice of schoolbooks, and changes regarding the National Curriculum. Moreover, they would like an independent ministry for education and the renewal of some school buildings, index.hu said.

The two main trade unions (PDSZ and PSZ) formed a joint strike committee one year ago. They have been negotiating with the Human Resources Ministry for one year, but without success. As a result, they launched a warning strike on 31 January and a strike on 16 March. That lasted until the general elections, but the two trade unions said they would continue in September.

House Speaker László Kövér
Read alsoOrbán failed to solve the teachers’ situation in 12 years, now the House Speaker is asking for more time

Today is the World Teachers’ Day. That is why they decided to organise a nationwide strike for today. The next one of such will be on 14 October.

The laws prescribe that teachers must provide service even during their strikes. Many criticise that rule saying that it makes it almost impossible to show strength and place the government under pressure. Therefore, they attacked it on the Constitutional Court of Hungary. They claim that the strike was a basic right. Gergely Gulyás, the prime minister’s chief of staff, said on a regular government briefing that, in Germany, teachers do not even have the right to go on strike, while, in Hungary, they do.

nke_winter
Read alsoHungarian universities must save money: 18°C inside, dormitories close

The government claims they would like to increase the salaries of the teachers. However, they cannot do so until Hungary receives the EU funds denied because of the rule of law and infringement procedure launched against the country due to corruption. Although the government is always positive about the future of the negotiations with the European Commission, the Brussels-based body did not issue any optimistic statements on the issue. Experts say that the Hungarian forint, for example, would need one to stabilise its exchange rate.

Meanwhile, the local educational authorities fired multiple teachers who decided not to hold their classes on 2-3 workdays in September out of civil disobedience. As a result, teaching became impossible in many “elite” secondary schools in Budapest.

Today, there was a live-chain student and teacher protest in Budapest. Here is a video: Furthermore, at 5 PM, teachers, students, parents and grandparents are expected to block the Margaret Bridge until 7 PM. They want to show the government that the situation of public education in Hungary is unbearable. Since the Margaret Bridge is one of the most crowded overpasses, Budapest’s traffic will probably turn upside down this afternoon.

HERE you can read more about the event.

March: lesbians will occupy Budapest this Saturday

Lesbians march Budapest

The 3rd European Lesbian Conference is taking place between 29 September and 1 October in Budapest. The partakers will organize a march tomorrow in the capital from the Erzsébet square to the Fővám square. Before, they organized similar events in Vienna and Kyiv.

The conference of the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian Community was organized before in Vienna and Kyiv. Their motto is “One lesbian – blessing, 100 lesbians – revolution”.

The community said they organized this year’s gathering in Budapest because the Hungarian government introduced multiple discriminative legal acts against the LGBTQ community. Therefore, they would like to support their Hungarian and Polish activists. They highlighted, for example, the scandal around the ‘Meseország mindenkié’ book provoking outcries in Hungary because it had tales about same-sex couples. One of the deputy leaders of the Hungarian radical party, Mi Hazánk, even shredded a copy of the book.

They would also like to show their respect for Labrisz, the Hungarian lesbian association, one of Europe’s oldest.

 

david pressman us ambassador family
Read alsoUS Ambassador visits Hungarian President with his rainbow family

Justice minister on protection of rights of individuals, families

Protecting the rights of individuals and families, including the promotion of customer rights, is among the Hungarian government’s top priorities, the justice minister told a conference on Thursday.

Addressing the 5th conference on alternative dispute resolution organised by the National Bank of Hungary’s Financial Conciliation Body, Judit Varga said disputes can be resolved without going to court through conciliatory or arbitration bodies. Such alternative procedures promote lawful behaviour and help to reduce the burden on law courts, she said.

Alternative dispute resolution is aimed at ensuring consumers faster, simpler and cheaper ways to resolve disputes than filing a lawsuit, the minister said. “Settling disputes peacefully and ensuring an everyday life free of conflicts is a crucial government and social goal in this time of war,” she said.

The government has to tackle problems arising from soaring energy prices and inflation, but preserving families’ security is another top priority, and this is why the cabinet has decided to maintain the caps on the prices of utilities, fuels, and food products, Varga said.

Meanwhile, Varga said the government was committed to peace and had condemned Russian aggression while supporting Ukraine’s integrity and sovereignty. Peace is in the interest of ordinary Hungarians and of the whole of Europe, she added.

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Read alsoCzech Railways sends a message to the Hungarian government in an advertisement — VIDEO

Freedom rally for Iran in Budapest on October 1

Protest Iran hijab police Budapest

After the brutal murder of Mahsa Amini by the so-called “hijab police” in Tehran two weeks ago, the people of Iran have risen yet again and the streets of Iran is full of courageous protestors standing in the face of oppression. Some of the supporters living in Hungary organize a freedom rally for Iran in Budapest to support them. Below you may read their announcement without any modifications.

On Saturday October 1, all around the world people are gathering in solidarity with protesters in Iran who are risking their lives to call for change. We Iranian community of Budapest will gather in Fővám tér, 11:30, October 1st. And invite you to be with us and let the world know, we are standing with Iranian women.

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Read alsoNumber of Iranian students attending Hungarian universities revealed

Mahsa Amini’s name has become the code word for resistance and the people of Iran are voicing their rage and anger towards the 44-year rule of the Islamic regime that has no means of survival except violence, persecution, oppression, murder and corruption. Iranians are filling the streets of every village, town and city in Iran with one common demand; they don’t want the Islamic regime any more.

But the Islamic regime is responding with brutal violence, cracking down on unarmed citizens with live ammunition and hoards of thugs in plain clothes and uniform. The regime has shut down the internet that is reminiscent of their brutality a few years ago when they murdered thousands during an internet black out.

We ask you to stand with the Iranian people who chant on every street, WOMEN, LIFE, FREEDOM. Hope to see you there. 

Magyar Állampapír Government Bond 1
Read alsoChina: an alternative to EU money for Hungary?

Photos: Demonstration against abortion restrictions at the Hungarian Parliament

abortion restrictions demonstration budapest

The demonstration was organised by NGOs on World Day for Safe Access to Abortion. Most of the speakers protested against the so-called “heartbeat” decree passed in mid-September.

In the middle of September, a new addition has been made to the abortion application form: obstetrician-gynaecologists examining women seeking an abortion must now record that a clearly identifiable indication of fetal vital signs has been presented to their patients. This has – understandably – angered and horrified many people.

The importance of free contraception and sex education

On Wednesday evening, the Patent Association (Patent Egyesület) and the NGO aHang announced a protest against the amendment of the abortion law on Kossuth Square in Budapest. The demonstration gathered a crowd of several thousand people, mostly young people, who marched to the Ministry of Interior building after the speeches, Telex reports. After the official end of the event, which was punctuated by chants, the majority left the scene peacefully.

“The government is trying to make sure that women have no choice and have to give birth even if they don’t want to,” said the protest outside Parliament. Protesters say the aim is to humiliate women and that there are other ways to reduce the number of abortions, such as making contraception more accessible and making sex education viable in the country.

“My uterus, my body”

nem vagyok inkubátor transparent
“I am not an incubator” – a transparent from the demonstration. Source: Facebook/Patent Egyesület

After the speeches, around 7:15, the crowd headed towards the Ministry of Interior via Academy Street. Here they built a “monument” to Sándor Pintér, which presumably the Minister can only see in pictures, because they had to dismantle the structure themselves. “My uterus, my body”, protesters chanted. Meanwhile, a few minutes before 7.30 PM, the marchers arrived at the Interior Ministry building, where they were met by police.

They began to place the hangers in front of the fenced-in ministry building – the organisers had earlier asked everyone to bring a hanger, which is the brutal symbol of abortion performed at home.

This is how humane medicine works

notes demonstration abortion
“Sexual education!”, “Embryos do not yet have hearts or heartbeats.”, “Gentle abortion with the pill!”, “I am not a ‘public goods’ factory!” Notes from the demonstration. Source: Facebook/Patent Egyesület

“Sit down, State, you’ve failed!” – said Dr. Júlia Benkovics, obstetrician-gynecologist, in her speech. She sought to shed light on the plight of women who come to her frightened after becoming pregnant. She stated that she would not turn up the embryo’s heartbeat, would not turn the monitor towards her patients unless they asked. This statement was greeted with huge applause from the audience. “This is how humane medicine works”, the speech concluded.

The situation of teachers and the abortion law shows how the government is dealing with those who need help, said Barbara Visnyei, a doula, activist and mother of two. “It’s a responsible decision for prospective parents to have a child and not to have a child,” she said. “Whether it’s war or crisis, it’s always timely to rummage in women’s wombs.”

Demands: decent living conditions and access to contraception for all

notes demonstration abortion
“Get out of my womb!”, “Legal + safe abortion = life protection” Notes from the demonstration. Source: Facebook/Patent Egyesület

According to the organisers, the government has been curtailing women’s reproductive rights for years, including the ban of abortion pill in 2012, the making of appointments for pre-abortion consultations more difficult and the general anti-abortion agitation, Telex writes. The organisers wrote that what is needed instead are decent living conditions, access to contraception for all and modern sex education. Wednesday’s demonstration was timed to coincide with World Day for Safe Access to Abortion.

Gulyás Gergely government
Read alsoCabinet briefing: the Hungarian government announced new decisions

VIDEO, PHOTO: Hungarian fans vs climate protesters on the streets of Leipzig

Hungarian football fans vs climate activits

A group of Fridays for Future activists met the Hungarian football fans on the streets of Leipzig, Germany, yesterday. They started yelling at each other, so the police had to intervene. Check out our video below.

The Hungarian team played the last but one UEFA Nations League match in Germany yesterday and won against the three-time world champion. Thus, the team has a chance to win the tournament. That would mean the first international success for Hungarian football in long decades.

Of course, thousands of fans accompanied the national 11 to Germany, who marched together to the stadium after arriving in Leipzig. They sang and shouted slogans all along the way. A group of them even ran into a climate demonstration where the activists of the Fridays for Future were present.

Hungary football UEFA Nations League
Read alsoPHOTOS, VIDEO: Hungary defeated Germany, might win the UEFA Nations League

The Hungarian group confronting the demonstrators carried a “Defend Europe” flag on which the sign of the LGBTQ movement and the Black Lives Matter movement were crossed. Here is the photo:

 

Yelling started, and some fans started in the direction of the protesters when the police intervened. Below you may watch the video of what happened:

 

PHOTO, VIDEOS: Thousands demonstrated for a better education in Budapest

Budapest demonstration teacher student protest

Demonstrators, including students, teachers, left-wing politicians and opposition activists, staged a protest for the development of education and the appreciation of teachers in Budapest on Friday.

“Free country, free education!”

The demonstrators urged the government to devote greater attention to public education. They called for a solution to the shortage of teachers, keeping the teaching material to an amount that is “teachable and learnable” and for “liveable schools”.

The demonstration organised by the “Students for Teachers” Facebook group started at St Stephen Square in downtown Budapest, from where the protestors made their way to Fővám Square, chanting slogans like

“Free country, free education!”
Budapest demonstration teacher student protest
Demonstrators on the Szabadság (Freedom) bridge in Budapest. Photo: MTI/Noémi Bruzák

and “No teachers, no future!” Several opposition politicians like Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony, Péter Márki-Zay, the united opposition’s prime ministerial candidate in the spring general election, and lawmakers of the Párbeszéd and Socialist parties could be seen among the protestors.

At Fővám Square, several teachers and students addressed the crowd, calling on the government to increase spending on public education, and on teachers to hold a strike. They asked the public to show solidarity in the interest of the development of education.

Many of the protestors wore chequered shirts, an outfit that has become associated with teacher demonstrations.

Eduline.hu reported about the protest live and estimated the number of demonstrators to be thousands at around 5 PM. Here you may check out their photos of the demonstration. The “Students for Teachers” Facebook group was created in March and organised a protest near the Parliament, in which thousands took part.

However, the war in Ukraine put the movement of the teachers between parentheses, so it did not become a defining issue in the April general elections. Orbán’s Fidesz won a supermajority again, and the education secretary announced this week that the government would not put more money into the system from domestic sources. Instead, they wait for EU funds to arrive and promise they would raise the teachers’ wages to 80% of the average salary of Hungarian degree holders.

Here are two videos:

demonstration
Read alsoPolice take action against protesters after KATA protests

Lots of people protested against tree-felling in Budapest

protest budapest tree-felling

Opposition LMP on Friday staged a protest in front of the Ministry of Agriculture against a recent government decree easing the felling of trees.

In a speech, Erzsébet Schmuck, the party’s co-leader, demanded that the “crazy decree” be repealed. She said the consequences of climate change were increasingly severe, with the central and eastern parts of Hungary suffering from desertification, “a process which will be aggravated by this government decision”.

Hungary would need six times its 2 million hectares of forest area to achieve climate neutrality, Schmuck said. “If there won’t be any forests, then sooner or later we won’t be here, either,” she said, adding that the government’s measures would result in “none of the climate goals being met”.

László Lóránt Keresztes, the head of parliament’s sustainable development committee, said the government needed to be confronted with the consequences of its actions, insisting that “the disgraceful deforestation decree is equivalent to the destruction of nature”. He said scientists, environmental activists and mayors, including ones from the ruling parties, had spoken out against the decree.

Keresztes called on President Katalin Novák to “take a stand against the destruction of national assets”.

Péter Ungár, LMP’s parliamentary group leader, said that while Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was not responsible for climate change, he was the one to blame “for us having a government that isn’t preparing us for the effects of climate change and for why we aren’t doing anything to mitigate them”.

Those who oppose the decree “will prevent this destruction of nature with their physical presence, barricades and local groups set up across the country”, he said.

Read alsoProtesters block Margaret Bridge — UPDATED, PHOTOS

Protesters block Margaret Bridge — UPDATED, PHOTOS

Demonstrators protesting changes to the Itemised Tax for Small Businesses (kata) and caps on household energy bills blocked Margaret Bridge in Budapest on Monday morning.

The few hundred demonstrators, most of whom arrived by bicycle or scooter wearing the shirts and backpacks of food delivery companies, first filled only the outside lanes of the bridge before blocking the entire bridge from the Pest side near Jaszai Mari Square by 8am, MTI’s correspondent reported.

Read alsoProtest breaks out in Budapest, demonstrators block bridges – PHOTOS, UPDATED

Budapest police (BRFK) said on their website that traffic going onto Margaret Bridge would be diverted.

Cars that were already on the bridge before it was fully blocked by the protesters were able to turn around on the tram tracks. The sidewalks and bicycle paths on the bridge remain accessible.

Budapest police said on its website police.hu at 9am that the event announced to police in advance had ended while the demonstrators were still blocking the entire bridge. Police afterwards instructed the demonstrators to clear the tram tracks and the road. A group of protesters meanwhile left the bridge in the direction of Nyugati Railway Station and the Oktogon junction on the Pest side.

MTI’s onsite correspondent said that groups of police officers moved onto the bridge from both ends and cleared demonstrators from the road and herded them onto the sidewalk. They also pulled some protesters from the crowd.

Budapest police said at 11am that vehicle traffic had resumed on the bridge in both directions.

They later said that “police took into custody five people who had refused to move to the sidewalk despite repeated calls to do so”.

demonstration KATA
Read alsoCould Monday morning’s protests paralyse Budapest traffic?

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Photo: MTI/Koszticsák Szilárd

demonstration
Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán

demonstration
Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán

demonstration
Photo: MTI/Koszticsák Szilárd

demonstration
Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán

Could Monday morning’s protests paralyse Budapest traffic?

demonstration KATA

The Hungarian government has introduced changes to the KATA tax. As a consequence, a number of demonstrations and protests have been launched in Budapest. During the demonstrations, thousands of people paralysed traffic in parts of the city, closing bridges and roads. This is expected to happen again on Monday morning.

Another demonstration

The amendment to the KATA tax law is a sore point for many in Hungary. Since the amendment, demonstrations have been organised every day in Budapest. These small and large demonstrations have paralysed traffic in the Hungarian capital, with protesters occupying major bridges and junctions to raise awareness.

The demonstrations so far have usually started in the late afternoon or early evening. This has been less disruptive for traffic, as there are fewer people on the roads in the evening. However, the next planned demonstration is scheduled for Monday morning at 7 AM. The demonstration will take place on Margaret Bridge.

Read alsoProtest breaks out in Budapest, demonstrators block bridges – PHOTOS, UPDATED

Bikers at the head of the demonstration

It is not only the date of the demonstration that differs from the previous one, but also the identity of the organiser. Now, it is not politicians or political parties who are behind the demonstration, but food couriers.

The Facebook event reveals that the protest is being organised for Monday morning at 7 AM at Margaret Bridge. The food trucks organising the demonstration have already closed the Margaret Bridge once, early Tuesday afternoon, on the day the amendment was passed. This time, however, they are not only protesting against the KATA tax amendment, but also for realistic overhead prices.

“Enough street parties, enough festivals, enough influencer politicians! It’s time for the PEOPLE to finally take its fate into its own hands and protest when and where it really hurts Orbán and the government,” the organisers wrote in a post.

As they say, the demonstrations so far have been just warm-ups. Now the real resistance begins. The food couriers believe that Viktor Orbán has crossed a line and they cannot tolerate it. They will not stop until they get what they want, says index.hu.

Monday morning at 7 AM is critical for traffic.

Because of this, if one junction is successfully occupied, it could have serious consequences for traffic in the entire Hungarian capital.

demonstration
Read alsoThousands of anti-government protesters in Budapest, bridge seized

Protesters against new tax rules blocked Erzsébet bridge in Budapest

Several hundred protesters against a new law on the kata small business tax blocked Erzsébet bridge on the Pest side of the capital early in the evening on Thursday.

The protest had been organised by the satirical non-parliamentary Two Tailed Dog Party (MKKP).

Matild Palace Hotel-Budapest-1
Read alsoNew tax rules to chase away Hungarian tourist guides?

A trailer has been placed on the inner lanes of the bridge and tables and benches have been set up next to it. Speakers addressed the protesters, talking about the negative consequences they felt as a result of changes approved by parliament on Tuesday to the kata small business tax.

Péter Márki-Zay, the former prime ministerial candidate of the united opposition, told the protesters that the government had needed 100 days to prove that “all of their campaign promises were lies”.

The protest which started at 5.30pm was peaceful at 9pm, with police checking the IDs of some people who had sprayed graffiti on the pavement.

Police said on their website that the protesters had occupied all lanes of the bridge and traffic would be diverted on both sides of the bridge, including several bus services.

Photo: https://www.facebook.com/justanotherwordpresspage

demonstration
Read alsoPolice take action against protesters after KATA protests

Police take action against protesters after KATA protests

demonstration

Police have detained several protesters who obstructed traffic in Budapest and brought charges in one case of violence against a police officer, among others, after a demonstration held against changes to the small entrepreneurs’ tax (kata) at the square in front of Parliament late on Wednesday.

The official website police.hu has said that while the police ensured citizens’ right to free expression of opinion and peaceful protest, they took action when demonstrators obstructed traffic in busy junctions.

Hungarian forint state budget historic lows
Read alsoRecord weak forint: Hungary’s national bank is ready to fight

Police have filed misdemeanor charges against three people who blocked traffic in the junction of Andrássy Boulevard and Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Street in downtown Budapest.

Police have arrested a man who hit a police officer on the head with a chain, on suspicion of violence against a person in official capacity, and another for rowdy behaviour, the website said. Two people were arrested on Elisabeth Bridge for disobeying police instructions to keep to the pavement. Another two were detained on Margaret Bridge for similar reasons. Three people were restrained after refusing to obey police instructions.

Parliament on Tuesday adopted amendments to the regulations of the Itemised Tax for Small Businesses (kata), increasing the income threshold for taxpayers to 18 million forints (EUR 44,000) per year from 12 million, and restricting the circle of eligible entrepreneurs. Kata will be available for sole proprietors only from September 1. To eliminate hidden employment, only entrepreneurs providing services and goods for private customers would be eligible.

demonstration
Read alsoProtest held at Parliament against small business tax changes — PHOTOS

Protest held at Parliament against small business tax changes — PHOTOS

demonstration

A demonstration organised by the opposition Momentum party was held in front of Parliament on Wednesday evening to protest against recent changes to Hungary’s small business tax (kata).

Momentum head Ferenc Gelencsér said his party would propose an extraordinary session of parliament to drop the changes passed on Tuesday. He said Momentum would appeal to the Constitutional Court should its proposal be dropped. Momentum has also asked President Katalin Novák not to sign the legislation and request the top court’s review of the changes, he added.

While the ruling parties said in their election campaign that they could “save the country from war and crisis” they not only “fail to prevent the crisis but they are the ones generating it”, Gelencsér insisted. He accused the government of destroying businesses amid soaring food and raw material prices. “In this situation society must cooperate because those in power will only speak the language of power,” he said.

Read alsoProtest breaks out in Budapest, demonstrators block bridges – PHOTOS, UPDATED

demonstration
Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán

demonstration
Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán

demonstration
Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán

demonstration
Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán

demonstration
Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán

demonstration
Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán

Protest breaks out in Budapest, demonstrators block bridges – PHOTOS, UPDATED

Thousands gathered today to demonstrate in Budapest because of the projected modification of the small business tax, KATA. The government submitted the relevant bill yesterday and plans to accept it today. The new modifications concern 450,000 people in Hungary. Most of them feel they would lose their income if Orbán’s Fidesz and co-ruling KDNP accepted the bill today. The police highlighted in an announcement that the protesters took part in an unpermitted rally.

“Do not vote it!”

According to index.hu, Ferenc Gelencsér, the chairman of Momentum Movement, called the citizens to Kossuth Square, near the parliament. The demonstration started at 10 am, but the crowd, led by Momentum politicians, marched to Margaret Bridge later.

The demonstration runs under the title “Do not vote it!” („Ne szavazd meg!”).

Hundreds are present even though thousands promised to participate on the internet. If it lasts longer, probably more will join.

Protest in Budapest
Photo: FB
demonstrators_on_kossuth_square_near_the_parliament_in_budapest
Photo: FB/Momentum

Opposition politicians present

Employees of many different sectors are attending the demonstration: from food deliverers to hairdressers and people working in the creative and movie sector. Several opposition politicians also showed up, including Ágnes Kunhalmi (Socialists), Tamás Mellár (Párbeszéd), Antal Csárdi (LMP-greens), László Lóránt Keresztes (LMP-greens), Ferenc Gelencsér (Momentum).

Below you can watch the live report of index.hu:

 

At around 11 am, the protesters started chanting that they would block Margaret Bridge. Index.hu says that the idea came from Momentum Chairman Ferenc Gelencsér. As a result, they marched to Margaret Bridge preventing public transport and cars to access it.

Protest in Budapest
Photo: FB
Protest in Budapest
Photo: FB
Protest in Budapest
Photo: FB
Protest in Budapest
Photo: FB/Demokratikus Koalíció

The Budapest police called the demonstration an unpermitted rally and started to issue fines for people blocking the traffic. Later they arrested a man who spat on a police car.

A group of protestors even sat down in the middle of the bridge and started chanting: “Withdraw it!” 

Protest continues but the bridge is cleared

Index.hu later reported that the traffic on the bridge returned to normal, and there were much more police cars than protesters. The Budapest public transport company, BKK, said that tram number 4-6 did not commute between Oktogon Metro Station and the Buda abutment of Margaret Bridge. They recommend people to use the underground (M1, M2), instead.

As we reported before, the modification concerns almost half a million Hungarians working in various sectors. Probably, the most controversial part is that future KATA payers, with the exception of taxi drivers, will be allowed to generate revenues only by working with private individuals. The parliament will likely accept the new bill within the next 24 hours, which will take effect on 1 September. Meanwhile, taxpayers will have time until 25 September to indicate whether they wish to stay with the modified system or prefer other forms of taxation.

Many protestors argue that the modification is just a brutal tax increase resulting in the loss of their families’ earnings.

MTI reported that the parliamentary meeting was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon to vote on the amendment of the bill which would restrict sole proprietors to use KATA.

UPDATE (2.00 pm) – demonstrators partially closed the Elizabeth bridge

Protester also slowed down traffic on Erzsebet Bridge on Tuesday early afternoon. Budapest police said that the protesters had occupied one lane in each direction on the bridge, MTI reported.

UPDATE2 (3.24 pm) – parliament accepts KATA modifications

After a long debate, the parliament accepted the government’s modifications today afternoon. 120 MPs voted for it, while 57 were against it. 1 MP remained neutral, telex.hu reported.

UPDATE3(9.02 pm) – police drove out the demonstrators from the Margaret bridge

Demonstrators remained on the Margaret bridge even after the parliament accepted the bill. The police drove them out only at around 8 pm. Thus, ordinary tram traffic could continue. They called the ambulance to a pregnant woman who did not feel well. Officers placed cordons on the two sides of the bridgehead so cars could return to the bridge.

demonstration budapest budaházy
Read alsoVIDEO: Protesters blocked the Elisabeth Bridge in Budapest – UPDATE

VIDEO: Protesters blocked the Elisabeth Bridge in Budapest – UPDATE

demonstration budapest budaházy

The Buda abutment of Elisabeth Bridge (Erzsébet híd) had been closed down due to demonstrations, while traffic was moving in the bus lane towards Pest, BKK wrote on its Facebook page on Monday morning. 

The demonstration was organised by the Hatvannégy Vármegye Youth Movement under the name “Freedom for Budahazy!”. As a reminder, in March, the Budapest Metropolitan Court sentenced György Budaházy to 17 years in prison for terrorism and other crimes. Read details HERE: the “Hungarian betyár” sentenced to 17 years for terrorist activities

Twenty years ago, on the same day, Budaházy and his henchmen closed the Elisabeth Bridge, demanding a recount of the votes after the 2002 parliamentary elections.

The police said that the members of the group were arrested and that they would be prosecuted for violating the provisions of Act LV of 2018 on the Right of Assembly as well as for traffic offences. The action was ongoing, they added.

UPDATE

Protesters blocked all lanes of traffic with cars. Shortly afterwards, the police arrived on the scene along with two tow trucks and took the protesters’ cars away one by one.

The bridge is now clear and traffic is back to normal.

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Read alsoThis is why several malls received bomb threats in Hungary!