Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has promised a crackdown on perceived enemies of the state, citing conspiracy theories about foreign powers influencing the country’s politics.
Orbán delivered his speech as tens of thousands gathered in central Budapest to show support for opposition leader Péter Magyar and his party, Tisza. The protests coincide with Hungary’s 1848 revolution commemoration and come amid growing dissatisfaction with Orbán’s rule and economic system.
Magyar’s supporters criticized Orbán’s government, saying it exploits the Hungarian people and divides them against each other. Orbán, on the other hand, claimed that certain groups are “bugs” that need to be eliminated from his government.
Orbán has a history of using conspiracy theories to justify his policies, including comparing the EU to the Soviet Union during its occupation of Hungary. He has also accelerated efforts to crack down on critics and opposition groups, claiming they undermine Hungary’s sovereignty with foreign funding.
The protests mark a significant shift in Hungarian politics, with polls showing Magyar’s Tisza party neck and neck or ahead of Orbán’s Fidesz party. The elections scheduled for next year could be crucial in determining Orbán’s fate.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/hungary-orban-crackdown-media-ngo-38776560a2edf5948482dd4839461411