Mass protests against pro-Russian leaders sweep Eastern Europe
Hundreds of thousands took to the streets in Budapest, Belgrade and Bucharest on Saturday for separate pro-Europe and anti-Russia protests.
At least 50,000 people marched in Hungary to demand an end to Viktor Orban’s 15-year rule, while Serbia saw its largest anti-government rally in recent history and thousands in Romania demonstrated in support of the European Union.
In Budapest, Hungarians came out in force against Mr Orban, considered Vladimir Putin’s closest ally among EU leaders, in favour of the surging pro-Europe opposition Tisza Party, led by Peter Magyar.
“Those who cheat on their own nation should end up in the dustbin of history,” Mr Magyar, a former Orban ally, told the huge crowd. “Our time has come.”
Mr Magyar has pledged to create a stronger Europe, bring an end to what he views as an entrenched system of corruption, and called on Hungarians to form a broad coalition against Mr Orban’s government.
At a separate rally to mark the Hungarian revolution of 1848, Mr Orban vowed that his Right-wing government would eliminate a global “shadow army” made up of NGOs, journalists and politicians that serves the European Union and a “liberal American empire”.
“After today’s festive gathering comes the Easter cleaning. The bugs have overwintered,” Mr Orban told the crowd.
Meanwhile, in Belgrade, up to 325,000 people descended on the Serbian capital, marking the climax of long-running anti-corruption protests that have upended the Balkan country in recent months.
The near-daily protests were sparked by the collapse of a railway station roof in November that killed 15 people. It galvanised anger towards Aleksandar Vucic’s Russian-friendly government, with corruption and a cover-up of unsafe construction blamed for the loss of life.
Several high-ranking officials, including the prime minister, have resigned, but the anger is staunchly focused on Mr Vucic, who closely aligned himself with the Novi Sad station’s renovation.
Under Mr Vucic, Serbia has maintained good relations with Russia, refusing to impose sanctions on its ally after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. [Continue reading…]