August M
Tens of thousands of people gathered in the streets of Hungary’s capital on Saturday, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The demonstration followed revelations of abuse at a detention centre for minors, a case that has reignited criticism of the government’s oversight of public institutions.
The protest, reported by Digi24.ro and citing AFP, Reuters and Agerpres, marks one of the largest opposition rallies in recent months.
Scandal unfolds
The controversy centres on a detention centre for minors, described by authorities as housing young offenders.
A video released this week by a former opposition lawmaker brought renewed attention to abuses that date back several years.
In response, the government placed five similar centres under direct police supervision as prosecutors continued their inquiries, Digi24.ro reports.
Streets fill up
According to Digi24.ro, opposition leader Péter Magyar seized on the scandal to renew calls for Viktor Orbán to step down.
He organised the demonstration in Budapest, where protesters marched carrying stuffed animals and banners reading “Protect the children!”
Crowds chanted “Orbán, resign!” as they moved through the city. Magyar argued that the case highlights deeper systemic failures.
“This scandal and others of the same kind that have occurred in the past show the lack of control over public institutions whose role is to help minors in difficulty,” he said.
He also published a 2021 official report stating that more than a fifth of institutionalised children had been victims of abuse.
Orban responds
Viktor Orbán condemned the abuses but sought to frame the context of the facility. He said the centre was “in fact a kind of prison” for “delinquent minors, all of whom have committed crimes.”
“Most are serious crimes, including murders,” he said. However, he acknowledged wrongdoing by staff. “What shocked us all is the fact that, in a very difficult context, a guard resolved a delicate situation in an unacceptable way.”
Even if it’s a young delinquent, he shouldn’t be treated the way this guard treated him. It’s unacceptable, without a shadow of a doubt,” Orbán added, Digi24.ro notes.
Political stakes
The scandal comes ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for April next year. Péter Magyar, once an ally of Orban, has emerged as his most serious challenger.
Magyar left OrbánFidesz party early last year following his divorce from former justice minister Judit Varga. He later founded the Tisza Party, which describes itself as a pro-European centre-right movement.
Tisza finished second in the European elections with nearly 30% of the vote, and recent polls suggest it may now be ahead of Fidesz, Digi24.ro reports.
Sources: Digi24.ro, AFP, Reuters, Agerpres
