Thousands protest in Budapest against Orban

Tens of thousands of citizens protested the government of Hungary's prime minister, Victor Orban, in central Budapest on Saturday.

The protest was led by a lawyer once close to the administration, who recently created a political movement to challenge the prime minister.

Protesters marched towards the Parliament in warm spring weather, some of whom cheered “ne do not fear” and “Orban, resign! ”

Many were clothed in national, red, green and white colors, or carried national flags, symbols that the Orban party has used as its own in the past two decades.

“These are the national colors of Hungary, not of the government”, said 24-year-old Layla, who travelled to Budapest from Sopron, a town on the country's western border.

Marsh was led by Peter Magyar, 43, who was once married to the former justice minister of the Orban government, Judith Varga, who aims to challenge Orban with his new party.

Magyar became well - known in February when he made shocking comments about the government's internal work. He accused Antalya Rogan, the minister who heads Orban's office, of leading a centralised propaganda machine.

He also published a recording of a conversation with her ex-wife, where she speaks in detail about a attempt by a senior assistant to Orban's cabinet chief to intervene in a bribery case. Prosecutors are investigating his statements.

This investigation is taking place at a politically sensitive time for Orban, as parliamentary elections in the European Union will be held in June. This case also comes after a sex abuse scandal that resulted in the collapse of his two key allies in politics -- former president and Vargan é in February.

According to a survey by Median, published in March, 68 percent of voters have heard Magyar got into politics, and 13 percent have said that they are likely to support his party. /rel