Budapest braces for traffic chaos and major disruptions starting tonight

Budapest is bracing for traffic disruption starting this evening, as protests continue for a fifth consecutive week against the curtailment of the right of assembly. Another demonstration is planned for today, which will affect several areas across the capital.

In a Facebook post, MEP Ákos Hadházy announced that this latest protest in Budapest will not be confined to Erzsébet Bridge, but will also extend to new locations. The demonstration will begin on the bridge and then move to Buda Castle, where it will continue into the following day before returning to the bridge on Wednesday afternoon.

Hadházy had previously planned a 24-hour demonstration, but police refused to grant permission, reducing the event’s duration to 12 hours. It appears that organisers have now found a workaround: they aim to bypass the authorities’ bans by holding demonstrations at multiple locations in several stages.

The series of protests began after Parliament passed legislation tightening restrictions on the right of assembly. Hadházy has pledged to maintain the demonstrations until the government withdraws what he has described as “technofascist” legislation.

Read more here for updates on the tightening freedom of assembly in Hungary.

The Budapest Police Headquarters (BRFK) and the Budapest Public Transport Centre (BKK) have informed our newsroom that there will be traffic disruptions in several areas of the capital from Tuesday afternoon due to the protests.

According to BRFK, Erzsébet Bridge will be closed from 16:30 to 18:30 on Tuesday, 15 April, and from 18:00 to 21:00 on Wednesday, 16 April. During the protest march, traffic will be restricted along the following route: Erzsébet Bridge – Döbrentei Square – Attila Avenue – Dózsa György Avenue – Palota Avenue. On Wednesday, 16 April, restrictions will affect the route from Szent György Square – Palota Avenue – Dózsa György Square – Attila Avenue – Döbrentei Square – Erzsébet Bridge.

No stopping between 07:00 and 21:00 in Districts VII and XIII of Budapest:

• Jászai Mari Square (District XIII), north of Margaret Bridge, continuing onto Újpesti upper quay
• In front of 50 Damjanich Street, over a distance of 20 metres
• Széchenyi upper uay, between Markó Street and Kossuth Square
• The odd-numbered side of Sóház Street, between Csarnok Square and Fővám Square
• 50 metres along the upper quay of the University of Technology in front of Szent Gellért Square

BKK public transport changes:

• Bus 107 will operate only on the Buda side, running between Infopark – BudaPart and Móricz Zsigmond Körtér M (via Szent Gellért Square – Műegyetem M), without stopping between Szent Gellért Square and Keleti Railway Station.
• Buses 5, 7, 8E, 108E, 110, 112, and 133E will run from the Pest terminals to Blaha Lujza Square, and from the Buda terminals to Szent Gellért Square (routes 7, 8E, 108E, 133E), Móricz Zsigmond Circus (routes 110, 112), and Déli Railway Station (route 5).
• Buses 16 and 216 will not operate. Buses 16A and 116 will run between Széll Kálmán Square and the Fény Street Market and Szentháromság Square during any closure of Dísz Square.