Tens of thousands gathered in Budapest, Belgrade, and Bucharest on Saturday for individual demonstrations supporting Europe and opposing Russia.
More than 50,000 individuals took part in a march in Hungary calling for an end to Viktor Orban’s long-standing 15-year leadership. Meanwhile, Serbia experienced its biggest opposition demonstration in modern times, and thousands in Romania rallied in favor of EU membership.
In Budapest,Hungarians strongly opposed Mr. Orban, who was seen as The top supporter of Vladimir Putin within the EU leadership in favor of the rising pro-European opposition Tisza Party, led by Peter Magyar.
Those who betray their country deserve to be consigned to the ash heap of history," Mr. Magyar, a previous supporter of Orban, declared to the massive audience. "Our moment has arrived.
Mr. Magyar has committed to building a more robust Europe, putting an end to what he sees as a persistent culture of corruption, and urged Hungarians to join forces in forming a wide-ranging alliance against this issue. Mr Orban’s government.
During a different gathering commemorating the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, Mr. Orban pledged that his right-leaning administration would dismantle a worldwide "shadow army" comprising NGOs, reporters, and politicians aligned with both the European Union and a "liberal American empire."
"After today’s joyful celebration comes the Easter cleanup. The pests have survived the winter," Mr. Orban said to the audience.
At the same time, as many as 325,000 individuals converged upon Belgrade, illustrating the peak of prolonged demonstrations against corruption that have significantly impacted Serbia over the past few months.
The nearly daily demonstrations were ignited by the collapse of a train station ceiling in November, which resulted in 15 fatalities. This event consolidated public outrage against Aleksandar Vucic’s Russian-friendly government , where corruption and a cover-up of unsafe construction practices were cited as the reasons for the fatalities.
Several high-ranking officials, including the prime minister, have stepped down, however, the frustration is firmly directed at Mr. Vucic, who strongly supported the refurbishment of the Novi Sad station.
Under President Vucic, Serbia has kept amicable ties with Russia, choosing not to enforce sanctions on their ally following the complete invasion of Ukraine.
Before the large-scale protests, the progressively authoritarian leader alleged that there would be an effort to depose him, labeling it as an "imported revolution" linked with Western spy organizations, though he did not present any proof.
Russian authorities have similarly blamed the West for instigating protests in Serbia aimed at removing President Mr. Vučić, who took office as president in 2017 after serving as prime minister.
Numerous masked individuals dressed in black assembled across from the Serbian Parliament building. According to local sources, members of organized soccer fan gangs were believed to be among them, raising concerns about potential aggression instigated by a group supporting Vucic.
Most Western governments have remained mostly silent about the protest movement, viewed as a strategy to stay on good terms with Mr. Vucic and prevent him from moving closer to Moscow’s sphere of influence.
Mr Vucic stated on Saturday that he himself did so. government got “the message” However, he maintained that most people do not desire a "color revolution," alluding to protests intended to establish Western-style democracies in former Communist countries, like the one in Ukraine in 2014 that led to the ousting of its pro-Russian leader, Viktor Yanukovych.
On Saturday in Romania, crowds of thousands gathered in Bucharest to champion their nation’s path forward within Europe and express their disapproval of growing nationalist and anti-European sentiments.
Romania will have to hold another round of its two-stage presidential election in May following the nation's highest court annulment of the original vote held in December because of allegations regarding Russian meddling.
Calin Georgescu, who was ahead in the surveys, has been prohibited from participating In the recount vote, he and Moscow refuted claims that the Kremlin had interfered with his campaign.
On Saturday, pro-Europe supporters in Romania gathered with an ocean of blue European Union and tricolor Romanian flags. Some chanted slogans against Russia and held placards reading "Unity and Respect - Europe Provides Rights," or "Embrace Freedom - Say No to Russian Influence."
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