Merkel in Budapest – Civil groups demonstrate against Hungary’s political set-up

Budapest, February 2 (MTI) – Protestors allied with civil groups held a demonstration in the vicinity of the German-language Andrassy University in Budapest on Monday, in protest against Hungary’s political arrangements.

The demonstration coincided with an official one-day visit to Hungary by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She gave a lecture at the university in the afternoon.

A grouping calling themselves MostMi held their protest under the banner “We belong to Europe!”, addressing several hundred people gathered in the 8th district.

German writer living in Budapest, Hans-Henning Paetzke, told the gathering that “something is rotting again in the Hungarian state machinery.” He declared that he wanted to shake up the opposition and political responsibility in people.

Hungary’s counter terrorism force (TEK) closed down the streets surrounding Andrassy University, citing an international agreement stipulating measures to ensure security and protection for representatives of other countries as its reason for the ban.