before the European Parliament and local elections at the beginning of June, thousands of Hungarians demonstrated against the nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Peter Magyar, a former member of the government seen by some observers as the first serious threat to Orban in years, organized the rally attended by about 10,000 people in the eastern city of Debrecen, a stronghold of the ruling party. Fidesz, News writes.
Fidesz candidates have ruled the city since the late 1990s, with the ruling party winning about 60 percent of the vote in the last election, compared to about a third for opposition parties.
Addressing flag-waving supporters, Magyar attacked one of Orban’s core policies, criticizing what he called the extremely low level of child support allowances in Hungary.
“If you tell this story anywhere in Europe, nobody will believe you,” Magyar said.
Orban says that, among EU countries, Hungary spends the largest part of its economy on supporting families.
“We need a completely new system, where social support is really targeted based on social needs,” Magyar said.
He said Hungary was run by what he called a well-connected elite, which he would try to eliminate if elected.
International watchdogs say Orban channeled European Union funds to businessmen close to Fidesz to consolidate his power. Orban says that Hungary is no more corrupt than other countries.
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