Hungary’s opposition deputies on Thursday unveiled their unity, vowing that the year that has just begun will become the “year of resistance” against Prime Minister Viktor Orbán two days before a new anti-governmental demonstration planned for Budapest, AFP and Agerpres report.
“We swear to make the year of resistance in 2019 inside and outside the parliament with the unity and cooperation of all the opposition parties,” MPs said at a special ceremony organized on a glacial cold in front of the building of the legislature in Budapest.
With the end of the celebrations, Opposition, trade unions, and civil society hope to bring together tens of thousands of people on Saturday in the Hungarian capital to revive their protest against the December reforms, especially labor law. Denounced by critics as favoring “slavery,” the amendments to Labor Law provide for an increase to 400 of the overtime that employees may be required to provide annually, that is two months of extra work that the employer can pay three years later.
These measures determined before Christmas a series of demonstrations that have been accompanied by violence, both in Budapest and in the province, a rare mobilization in Hungary, AFP notes.
The opposition calls for the annulment of judicial reforms that refers to reduce the independence of magistrates, as well as more freedom for the public media.
With no problems in April for a third consecutive term, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán continued his efforts to install a so-called “illiberal” democracy. The Fidesz Party and its allies then voted with 48% of the votes, two-thirds of the parliament, thanks to a very favorable electoral system, a majority that allowed them to launch constitutional reforms.
Source:Flux24
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