BUDAPEST: On Saturday, a significant gathering took place in central Budapest as judges, judicial staff, and their supporters marched to advocate for judicial independence. An estimated 4,000 people participated in the rally, highlighting growing frustration with Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been in office since 2010. This march, organized by the judges’ association, marked a notable moment in Hungary, coming months after the government made a controversial agreement with a key judicial body that tied salary increases to proposed reforms.
Before the rally, Gergely Gulyas, Orban’s chief of staff, raised questions about whether judicial workers should be allowed to protest. Meanwhile, a prominent government supporter suggested publicly naming the judges who attended.
Marton Loska, an entrepreneur who brought his family, including his eight-month-old twins, emphasized the importance of judicial independence. “It is a crucial part of a normal democracy that we can’t let be undermined, just like education and other sectors that the ruling Fidesz party seems to be gradually dismantling,” he stated.
Vass Katalin, a legal practitioner aged 50, remarked, “If Hungarian judges are taking to the streets, it signifies a turning point because they are usually not known for this kind of action.” Similarly, Judit, a 58-year-old lawyer who opted to remain anonymous, indicated that the situation had already reached a critical tipping point long ago.
