19 Apr 2018 | 01:05 AM UTC
Hungary: Anti-government demonstration in Budapest April 21 /update 1
Anti-government demonstration planned in Budapest on April 21; localized traffic disruptions anticipated
Event
An anti-government demonstration is scheduled to take place in Budapest on Saturday, April 21. Demonstrators are expected to rally at 18:00 (local time) at Kossuth Lajos Square. The demonstration has been organized to protest the victory of controversial Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's party in the April 8 parliamentary elections. An increased security presence and associated transportation disruptions are expected in the vicinity of all gatherings.
Context
In the April 8 parliamentary elections, Viktor Orbán's ruling Fidesz party and coalition partner Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP) preserved its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly. Orbán, in office since 2010, has come under fire in the past for controversial positions on immigration (particularly concerning Muslim migrants) and the European Union, among other issues.
An earlier anti-government demonstration took place on April 14 and drew around 100,000 participants.
Advice
Individuals in Budapest are advised to avoid all protests, to prepare for associated traffic disruptions, and to adhere to all orders issued by local authorities.
