Massive demonstrations against pedophilia in Hungary

Thousands of people Friday demonstrated in downtown Budapest to call for changes to child protection laws.

Peter Magyar, a former government employee who recently launched a political campaign against the prime minister, organized the demonstration.

Magyar made a sudden and significant impact on Hungary's political arena in February, along with a sex abuse scandal at a children's home that had already caused President Katalin Novak to step down, causing further turmoil for Prime Minister Victor Orban's government.

"The Orban government does not guarantee the basic chance for proper development of children. Children have no chance," Magyar said in a statement.

In response to the scandal, the ruling party, Fidesz, presented a bill to the legislature on Tuesday.

This bill aims to enforce more severe punishments for child sexual abuse, which would include the denial of parole.

In February, Magyar made allegations against the government, claiming that there was extensive corruption and that they were running a centralized propaganda campaign. Since that time, Magyar has successfully organized dissatisfied voters through large-scale demonstrations.

Orban's aides have denied the accusations, and the recently established Sovereignty Protection Agency has started investigating allegations of external financing of Orban's campaign.

Source: Newsroom