Hungary: Demonstration planned in Budapest February 15 /update 14

Event

A demonstration is planned at Széchenyi Chain Bridge in Budapest beginning at 17:00 (local time) on Friday, February 15, to protest recent changes to labor laws. A heightened security presence and localized traffic disruptions are to be expected near the demonstration site.

Context

Protests denouncing a controversial labor law and judicial reform first erupted in Hungary on December 12, 2018. President János Áder signed the labor reforms into law despite the protests. Opponents of the law have called the reforms a "slave law"; the law increased the number of overtime hours employers can demand employees to work from 250 to 400 hours a year. It also allows associated overtime payment to be delayed up to three years. On January 3, opposition members of parliament pledged to make 2019 a "year of resistance" against the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Advice

Individuals in Budapest are advised to avoid all demonstrations as a precaution, anticipate localized business and transportation disruptions near protest sites, and obey instructions issued by the local authorities.