Large crowds have gathered in front of the Sándor Palace, the President’s official residence in Buda Castle, in support of the Head of State. President Sulyok refuses to resign despite a long campaign of threats, bullying, and denigration from Hungary’s new PM, Péter Magyar.
Photo: Hungary Today
On Thursday, hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Romanian Embassy in Budapest demonstrating against the seizure of a church and eviction of a Hungarian abbot from a monastery in Transylvania. Speakers were highly critical of the Magyar government’s near total inaction during the scandalous seizure of the church property, saying neither PM Péter Magyar, nor Foreign Minister Anita Orbán stood up for persecuted members of the Hungarian community in Romania.
On Saturday, citizens filled the streets of Budapest protesting against the Migration Pact, chanting “traitor” at Péter Magyar. Photo: MTI/Szigetváry Zsolt
Later on Saturday, thousands marched through central Budapest, accusing the TISZA government of being prepared to sign the EU’s migration pact. On Sunday, a large crowd gathered in front of the president’s residence in Buda Castle, calling for President Sulyok to persevere and not to give in to threats and demands from Magyar, who is threatening the head of state with impeachment. Magyar has not given any legal reasons for his controversial demand, except listing arguments that are purely of political nature.
On Sunday, approximately a thousand people gathered in front of the presidential palace. Young and old, ordinary citizens, well known politicians, and media personalities called on Magyar to stop the campaign of harassment against a number of public figures. Among the crowd were János Bóka, former FIDESZ minister for European Affairs, or Bertalan Havasi, Viktor Orbán’s press secretary, who had a very public spat with Magyar after the new PM suddenly dismissed him from his job. Former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has also expressed his support for President Sulyok on social media.
Photo: Hungary Today
People chanted “traitor” at PM Magyar’s account, just as they did a day earlier during the anti-Migration Pact demonstration. They also kept chanting “shame,” and one could hear the name “Viktor, Viktor” among the protesters, referring to former PM Viktor Orbán.
Speakers on the podium, journalists, Christian activists, and student representatives, have called on the new prime minister to seize his bullying campaign against the president, and focus on policy and governance instead. They have accused Magyar of violating the spirit of the constitution and behaving in a dictatorial manner. However, there were also voices on the podium who have labelled criticism on both sides for their style of governance and called on Hungarians to start building their society anew, with a fresh, independent spirit.
Earlier, the president had warned that the TISZA government announced plans “to amend the Constitution through a legislative measure tailored specifically to me in order to remove me from my rightfully held office.
Constitutional law refers to this action as a political power grab.”
“The resulting constitutional crisis is exacerbating social divisions and damaging the international reputation of Hungarian democracy,” warned Tamás Sulyok.
Photo: Hungary Today
Some observers have concluded that the most likely reason behind Magyar’s aggressive attempt to remove the president is his goal to announce early regional elections. His intention could be to ride the wave of enthusiasm that has brought him a supermajority during the April elections. But others also accuse him of demonstrating an insatiable lust for power, and for total control.
There were significant queues for the castle-bus due to people trying to get to the demonstration. Photo: Hungary Today
Featured Image: Hungary Today
