Orbán stages a 'peace march' in Hungary in a show of strength before European Parliament election
A crowd of tens of thousands has gathered in Hungary’s capital in a show of strength behind Prime Minister Viktor Orbán
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — A crowd of tens of thousands gathered in Hungary’s capital on Saturday in a show of strength behind Prime Minister Viktor Orbán a week before the European Parliament election, a contest he has cast as an existential turning point between peace in Europe and a world war.
The demonstration, dubbed by organizers as a “peace march,” brought Orbán’s supporters from all over Hungary and neighboring countries. They marched along the Danube River in Budapest from the city's iconic Chain Bridge onto Margaret Island, waving flags and signs reading “No War.”
Orbán, whose 14 years in power make him the European Union’s longest-serving leader, has focused his campaign for the June 9 ballot on the war in Ukraine, portraying his domestic and international opponents as warmongers who seek to involve Hungary directly in the conflict. Critics say his appeals for an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine would allow Russia to retain territories it has occupied and embolden it further.
On Saturday, he told supporters that it was time for his party to “occupy Brussels” — the EU's de facto capital — and transform the continent's approach to support for Ukraine as it fends off Russia's full-scale invasion.
