Hungarian Police Remove Former PM, Lawmakers From Protest

Former Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany

Police have broken up a protest outside the Hungarian parliament, removing former prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsany and other lawmakers.

Gyurcsany was taken away after he joined parliamentary deputies from the green leftist LMP party who had chained themselves to a barrier outside parliament to prevent lawmakers from entering.

Police also forcefully removed the LMP lawmakers from the scene. Parliament, which is dominated by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's center-right Fidesz Party, was expected on December 23 to adopt legislation that the opposition says erodes democracy and cements Fidesz in power.

compiled from agency reports