Protests Erupt in Hungary Against President's Ouster Plans

Protests occurred in Budapest, Hungary, against the government's efforts to oust President Tamás Sulyok. Demonstrators, numbering in the thousands, gathered at the presidential office, the Sándor Palace, to defend Sulyok, whom the new center-right government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, intends to remove.

The protests were fueled by concerns over a constitutional amendment set to be voted on next week, which would facilitate Sulyok's removal and has been characterized as an assault on democracy. Critics, including demonstrator Krisztina Nemerknyi, argued that the issue is not Sulyok's popularity but the unacceptable nature of undermining democratic norms.

The Fidesz party, which has been accused of dismantling democratic institutions during Orbán's 16-year tenure, is pushing for reforms that include a term limit for the presidency and changes to the judiciary. These actions are seen as steps toward consolidating power and potentially leading to a dictatorship, raising alarms among supporters of democracy in Hungary.