On Thursday, Budapest witnessed two large-scale demonstrations attended by thousands of Hungarians supporting Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his rival Peter Madar. This was reported by AP.
Supporters of Orban gathered on a bridge over the Danube and marched towards the Hungarian Parliament. This event, held on the national holiday October 23, was dubbed the «March for Peace», commemorating the failed uprising of 1956, which was suppressed by the Red Army.
Participants shouted slogans in favor of Orban's message that foreign powers threaten to drag Hungary into the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Orban also strongly opposed Ukraine's ambitions to join the EU and NATO, stating that he would support a strategic partnership between the EU and Kyiv, but insisted that Ukraine «cannot be part of our military or economic alliance. They will bring war, take our money, and ruin our economy».
Later that day, Madar's supporters held a separate demonstration in one of Budapest's central squares, expressing anti-government sentiments and support for his right-wing party «Tisza».
March participants chanted anti-government slogans, including «Russians, go home!», AP reports.
The Hungarian Parliament extended the state of emergency declared in 2022 amid the war between Russia and Ukraine, which will remain in effect during the upcoming parliamentary elections.