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Hungarians protest against new Fidesz constitution Hungarians protest against new Fidesz constitution
(about 9 hours later)
Tens of thousands of people have been protesting in Budapest over Hungary's controversial new constitution, a day after it came into force.Tens of thousands of people have been protesting in Budapest over Hungary's controversial new constitution, a day after it came into force.
The country's governing Fidesz party pushed the law through parliament in April after winning a two-thirds majority in parliamentary elections.The country's governing Fidesz party pushed the law through parliament in April after winning a two-thirds majority in parliamentary elections.
Opponents say it threatens democracy by removing checks and balances set up in 1989 when Communism fell.Opponents say it threatens democracy by removing checks and balances set up in 1989 when Communism fell.
The EU and US had also asked for the law to be withdrawn.The EU and US had also asked for the law to be withdrawn.
The dispute has cast doubt over talks on a new financing agreement with the EU and IMF, seen as vital for market confidence in the central European country.The dispute has cast doubt over talks on a new financing agreement with the EU and IMF, seen as vital for market confidence in the central European country.
But the economic crisis facing Hungary overshadows both the government's policies and the opposition protests, says the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Budapest.
Fidesz won the elections promising to create a million workplaces - but there has been no growth so far.
And as the public mood worsens, so do the country's ratings, and the chances of attracting foreign investment, and creating more jobs, our correspondent says.
'Darkest spot''Darkest spot'
Several centre-left opposition parties joined in the protests, held near a gala event organised by the government to celebrate the new constitution.Several centre-left opposition parties joined in the protests, held near a gala event organised by the government to celebrate the new constitution.
The governing Fidesz party controls 68% of seats in parliament, but the streets now belong to the opposition.
Nearly every day there are new demonstrations against one aspect or another of government policy - the new constitution, economic policy, the centralisation of the state media, or the closing of an opposition radio station.
One of the main speakers at Monday night's rally, Peter Konya, likened the government to the Titanic ocean liner, and the protesters to the iceberg which sank it.
But the economic crisis facing Hungary overshadows both the government's policies and the opposition protests. Fidesz won a landslide victory in 2010 promising to create a million workplaces.
But their attempts to generate growth have so far ended in failure. And as the public mood worsens, so do the country's ratings, and the chances of attracting foreign investment, and creating more jobs.
Protesters chanted slogans denouncing the centre-right Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, and carried placards denouncing his "dictatorship" as officials arrived for the event.Protesters chanted slogans denouncing the centre-right Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, and carried placards denouncing his "dictatorship" as officials arrived for the event.
"Viktor Orban and his servants turned Hungary from a promising place to the darkest spot in Europe," said Socialist MP Tibor Szanyi, quoted by AFP news agency."Viktor Orban and his servants turned Hungary from a promising place to the darkest spot in Europe," said Socialist MP Tibor Szanyi, quoted by AFP news agency.
Aspects of the new constitution and accompanying laws which have come in for criticism include:Aspects of the new constitution and accompanying laws which have come in for criticism include:
  • A preamble committed to defending the intellectual and spiritual unity of the nation, which experts warn could be a future source of tension
  • The inclusion of social issues - like the rights of the unborn child, marriage between a man and a woman, and the definition of life sentences - which experts say should be left to ethical debates within society
  • The rewriting of the electoral system, in a way which opponents say favours Fidesz
  • A preamble committed to defending the intellectual and spiritual unity of the nation, which experts warn could be a future source of tension
  • The inclusion of social issues - like the rights of the unborn child, marriage between a man and a woman, and the definition of life sentences - which experts say should be left to ethical debates within society
  • The rewriting of the electoral system, in a way which opponents say favours Fidesz
But Fidesz says the new constitution, or basic law, improves the legal framework of life in Hungary.But Fidesz says the new constitution, or basic law, improves the legal framework of life in Hungary.
"Despite political debates we think it is an important value that for the first time, a freely elected parliament created the Basic Law," said Fidesz MP Gergely Gulyas, quoted by the Reuters news agency."Despite political debates we think it is an important value that for the first time, a freely elected parliament created the Basic Law," said Fidesz MP Gergely Gulyas, quoted by the Reuters news agency.
Mr Gulyas co-wrote the new law and shepherded it through parliament.Mr Gulyas co-wrote the new law and shepherded it through parliament.