Tens of thousands of Hungarians marched through downtown Budapest on Saturday in support of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who faces an unexpected challenge from a political newcomer ahead of next week’s European Parliament election.
Orban, in power since 2010, hopes his Fidesz party, which is not affiliated with any grouping in the European Parliament (EP), will benefit from a rise in far-right support across Europe as he prepares to take over the European Union’s rotating presidency in the second half of the year.
Orban has long been at odds with fellow EU members over a range of issues, including refusing to send weapons to Ukraine and maintaining economic ties with Moscow after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022.
The flag-waving crowd, chanting “Hungary-Hungary” and holding banners saying “Give us peace, Lord”, marched from Budapest’s Chain Bridge alongside the parliament building to Margaret Island, where Orban addressed supporters.
“Never before have so many people lined up for peace. We are the biggest peace corps, the largest peacekeeping force in Europe,” Orban said.
“Europe must be prevented from rushing into war, into its own destruction. Europe today is preparing for war, with daily announcements of the handing over of a new section of the road to hell,” he added.
“We are fighting for peace,” said Zoltán, 62, who took part in the march. “We have to turn the European Union in a different direction to avoid war … The rhetoric coming from the direction of France, the United kingdom and Germany clearly wants war, with the help of the U.S.”
(Source : Reuters)