Thousands of Hungarians marched to Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s offices on Saturday, led by opposition leader Peter Magyar, who urged the veteran nationalist to resign over an abuse scandal at a juvenile detention centre.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Budapest on Saturday and marched towards Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s offices, with the protest led by opposition figure Peter Magyar, who called on the long-serving nationalist leader to step down over an abuse scandal at a juvenile detention facility.
Braving freezing temperatures, the crowd moved through the Hungarian capital behind a banner declaring “Protect the children!”, holding teddy bears and lit torches to show support for victims of physical abuse linked to a case that emerged several years ago.
Earlier this week, prosecutors said seven individuals had so far been taken into custody in connection with the case at the state-run juvenile centre in Budapest.
Orban, who faces what could be the toughest challenge to his 15-year rule in an election likely in April, condemned the abuse in an interview with news outlet Mandiner, calling it unacceptable and criminal.
”More and more revolting things keep surfacing on a daily basis, which I did not think were possible in this country,” said Judit Voros, one of the protesters marching to Orban’s offices on Castle Hill in Budapest.
Earlier this week, the government placed Hungary’s five juvenile correctional institutions under direct police oversight while prosecutors investigate the case.
Prosecutors have been investigating the centre’s former director for months on suspicion of running a prostitution ring, money laundering and human trafficking.
A video published this week by opposition activist and former lawmaker Peter Juhasz prompted the resignation of the centre’s acting director.
With inputs from agencies
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