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bne February 2019 Central Europe I 57
On Thursday anti-government demon- strations continued in smaller towns across Hungary, forging rare unity among parties of different affiliations.
The adoption of the so-called “slave law” has brought together conservative Jobbik and social-liberal DK, once main foes. Momentum, which has a strong youth base, announced a major rally for Friday, supported by labour unions.
The repeal of the overtime rules is just one of the five demands by protestors. They are also standing up against the
A free press has become a key demand after dramatic scenes at the state televi- sion headquarters, when guards used excessive force against a dozen MPs who wanted their demands read out.
A large part of Hungary's media has come under the influence of the government-friendly circles, which are spreading propaganda and use their dominance to discredit any dissenting views.
Opposition parties called for further resistance and announced a fight against the legislation after Ader signed the
“The adoption of the so-called “slave law” has brought together conservative Jobbik and social-liberal DK, once main foes”
establishment of the new administrative court system, which has raised concerns about the independence of the judiciary.
Protesters have defied freezing tempera- tures and are demanding that Hungary should join the European Public Pros- ecutor's Office and the restoration of free and independent public media.
law. Jobbik accused the government
of obeying the orders of large foreign companies. The Liberals said that Ader, a former deputy leader of Fidesz, "represents merely the interests of the government and not that of the people. With this gesture Ader has once again become an accomplice to a crime, lefist DK opined.
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The Hungarian president approached by opposition MPs after parliament approved overtime rules on December 17
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