BUDAPEST, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Several thousand people held demonstrations on Sunday evening in the Hungarian capital Budapest against the government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, which had been criticized by the European Union for freedom rights violations.
Protestors gathered in Budapest to demand that the Hungarian government comply with demands of the European Union, and avoid potential sanctions.
On Wednesday, the European Parliament condemned a "serious deterioration of the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights" in Hungary and called for a process that could hypothetically lead to EU sanctions against Budapest.
This resolution follows an infringement procedure initiated at the end of April against a law adopted by the Hungarian Parliament on foreign universities, perceived as especially targeting the University of Central Europe (CEU), founded by the U.S. billionaire of Hungarian origin George Soros.
Some 3,000 people gathered on the banks of the Danube to listen to speeches at an event initiated on the social network by NGOs. Three themes were brought up as a reason for the demonstration, namely the protection of the free press, the protection of NGOs, targeted by a bill submitted to Parliament, and a show of solidarity for the CEU. At the end of the speeches, the crowd started a slow march towards the parliament, picking up size along the road.
Police cars, and vehicles belonging to protesters, broadcasting music and slogans targeting the Orban administration, escorted them. In front of the parliament, they met with other demonstrators. They listened to concerts and made a plea for academic independence.