By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News reporting from Budapest, Hungary

BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Thousands of Hungarians, many waving their flags, including some with holes in them, gathered to protest against Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whom they said stole the ideals of the 1956 Revolution against Soviet domination.

The gathering, organized by opposition leader Péter Magyar and his Tisza party, came on the day that Hungary remembered the 68th anniversary of the revolt, which Soviet soldiers crushed.

Hours earlier, Orbán, criticized for his perceived authoritarian style, warned the European Union, “We shall not allow Hungary to be turned into a puppet state, a vassal of Brussels.”

At Budapest’s Millenaris Park commemoration, he claimed the 1956 revolution had created unity and a common will but lacked the strength necessary to take sovereign action.

“Today, the right-wing government has the backing of strong national unity, a common will and strength,” he said. “Today, there’s an opportunity to take sovereign action, and I promise you that we shall use it.”

He told his audience that to be “Hungarians means to fight. This is the message and the demand of the heroes of fifty-six. We Hungarians can and will do it. We will do it again.”

However, his words did not impress Magyar, who has accused Orbán of turning Hungary into one of “Europe’s poorest and most corrupt” countries where some 3 million people live in deep poverty.

Protester Csaba Borbély, a 51-year-old lawyer, agrees. “This government is corrupt. We have a ruler but no democracy,” he told Worthy News.

While polls show he is closing in, and it remains to be seen whether Magyar can win the elections in 2026.

Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.

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