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The 2018-2019 Hungarian protests or the protests against the Overtime Work Act were a series of demonstrations against the politics of the Fourth Orbán Government starting from December 2018. It was mainly triggered by the passing of an overtime work act, amid an opposition obstruction attempt. The protests were characterized by clashes between protesters and the police, more serious than other anti-government protests in Hungary since 2010 - notably the police used tear gas to push back the crowd.[1]



2018-2019 Hungary protests
Protesters in December 2018
Date 8 December 2018 – 10 February 2019
Location
Caused by
  • Overtime work act
  • Administrative courts
Goals
  • Withdrawal of the Overtime work act
  • Judicial independence
  • Joining the European Public Prosecutor
  • Independent public media
Number
16 Dec 2018 15 000
16 Dec 2018 (March on MTVA): 2000 [2]
Casualties
Injuries9 policeman (12 December 2018)[3]

Background

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The Fidesz party lead by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had dominated Hungarian politics since 2010, securing three consecutive parlamentary supermajorities in each election.

Throughout the 2010s, Orbán received criticism from both the Hungarian opposition and western observers, accusing him of eroding democratic norms, restricting independent media, rising corruption supporting a network of oligarchs - as well as, since the European Migrant Crisis, using hateful, xenophobic rhetoric to bolster his support. The period had seen many protest organised by opposition-alligned civil organisations, against the new Fundamental law (2011-2012)[4], Education reforms (2012-13[5], 2015[6], 2016[7], 2018[8]), frequent amendments to the fundamental law (2013)[9], a proposed Internet tax[10] (2014), and the expulsion of the Central European University[11] (2017). These protests were mostly peaceful, and except for the repeal of the internet tax proposal, did not receive significant government response.

After FIDESZ's 2/3 majority victory in the 2018 parliamentary election a series of protests called "We are the Majority" protested Hungary's disproportional voting system (that allowed 49% of the voters represented by 66% of the seats), as well as unconfirmed rumors of election fraud. These protests attracted tens of thousands[12], but soon they had petered out without any incident or result, and the rest of the year passed without a major demonstration until December

Overtime work act

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Early protests

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12 December 2018 parliamentary scandal

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On 10 December 2018 the opposition parties planned to obstruct the passing of the act by proposing 2900 amendments, on which the Assembly must have voted individually.

Demonstrations

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12-15 December protests

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March on the MTVA building (16 December)

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Inside the MTVA building

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References

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  1. ^ haszanz; plankog (2018-12-14). "Ezek már nem olyan tüntetések, amilyeneket megszoktunk". 444. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  2. ^ "Opposition in Hungary Demonstrates Against Orban, in Rare Display of Dissent".
  3. ^ "A demokráciát rendbontók zavarták meg". kormany.hu.
  4. ^ "Hungarians protest against new Fidesz constitution". BBC News. 2012-01-03. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  5. ^ "Students protest against introduction of tuition fees". University World News. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  6. ^ https://24.hu/belfold/2015/04/22/egyetemi-botrany-ujra-utcan-a-hallgatok/
  7. ^ "HUNGARY: Teachers protest against education reform – World Federation of Teachers Union". Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  8. ^ Staff, Reuters (2018-01-19). "Thousands of students protest in Hungary for education reforms". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-06-17. {{cite news}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Thousands protest proposed constitutional changes in Hungary | DW | 10.03.2013". DW.COM. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  10. ^ "Hungary internet tax cancelled after mass protests". BBC News. 2014-10-31. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  11. ^ "Hungary CEU: Protesters rally to save university". BBC News. 2017-04-03. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  12. ^ Peto, Sandor (2018-04-21). "Tens of thousands of Hungarians protest against PM Orban's rule". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
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