Budapest saw one of its largest protests in recent decades on October 23 as crowds protested teachers' pay and conditions amid increasing economic hardship under populist leader Viktor Orban.
Hungarians Take To The Streets Amid Growing Economic Turmoil
- By RFE/RL
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Protesters walks across Budapest’s Liberty Bridge on October 23.
The crowd of thousands was one of the biggest protests Viktor Orban's government has faced. The protesters were brought together over a variety of issues, including conditions for teachers and the severe economic situation in Hungary.
The crowd of thousands was one of the biggest protests Viktor Orban's government has faced. The protesters were brought together over a variety of issues, including conditions for teachers and the severe economic situation in Hungary.
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A protester holds a sign depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban inside a communist-era Hungarian flag.
Hungary has been hard-hit by the massive rise in inflation throughout Europe since the beginning of 2021.
Hungary has been hard-hit by the massive rise in inflation throughout Europe since the beginning of 2021.
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The crowd in central Budapest on October 23.
Hungary’s current inflation rate of around 20 percent is behind only the Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. Meanwhile, the value of the forint has dropped by 25 percent against the dollar over the past year.
Hungary’s current inflation rate of around 20 percent is behind only the Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. Meanwhile, the value of the forint has dropped by 25 percent against the dollar over the past year.
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Women hold a banner asking, "Tomorrow who will teach?"
Since the start of the 2022 school year, teachers and students have held demonstrations in Budapest and elsewhere to show support for teachers dismissed for joining earlier protests.
Since the start of the 2022 school year, teachers and students have held demonstrations in Budapest and elsewhere to show support for teachers dismissed for joining earlier protests.
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Students at the protest in Budapest.
A government decree in February drastically reduced the right of teachers to strike.
A government decree in February drastically reduced the right of teachers to strike.
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October 23 also saw a ceremony in Budapest (pictured) to mark the 1956 uprising against Hungary’s Kremlin-backed communist government following World War II.
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A protester in the anti-government march holds a sign saying "Russians go home." The phrase was widely adopted by revolutionary Hungarians during the 1956 uprising, which was eventually crushed by Moscow.
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In Zalaegerszeg on October 23, Orban spoke during a ceremony to mark the 1956 uprising.
During the address, he likened the European Union to the Soviet Union, saying the multinational bloc would eventually "end up in the same place as their predecessors."
During the address, he likened the European Union to the Soviet Union, saying the multinational bloc would eventually "end up in the same place as their predecessors."
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The protest alongside the Danube River on October 23.
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Protesters in Budapest on the evening of October 23. One man in the crowd told Reuters: "This runaway inflation.... We cannot save up at all anymore. Simply, we cannot make ends meet as prices are soaring."
