Thousands are expected to gather in Budapest on Saturday to demand the resignation of János Lázár, a senior Hungarian politician, after he made a racist remark about Roma people. The controversy erupted earlier this month when a video showed Lázár using an offensive slur while discussing the country's labour shortage, suggesting Roma would clean train bathrooms since there were no migrants.
The remarks sparked widespread backlash from Roma organisations, NGOs, and opposition parties. Péter Magyar, leader of the largest opposition party Tisza, said Lázár had “crossed all boundaries”. Lázár has apologised but refused to resign, and has appeared alongside Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at a party event since the incident.
The protest comes 10 weeks before a parliamentary election that could determine the future of Orbán’s Fidesz party, which has been in power since 2010. Independent polls show Tisza, a centre-right party founded in 2020, holding a stable lead over Fidesz. Analysts suggest the scandal could further alienate undecided voters.
Roma communities in Hungary have long faced discrimination and worse living conditions. Activists argue that Fidesz has failed to create jobs or support Roma families. The protest organiser, 18-year-old Roma activist Ádám Lakatos, said “Fidesz is over, its mandate has expired permanently”.
Some attendees, like Bernadett Orbán and her partner Tamás Könyves, are not Roma but feel compelled to stand in solidarity. “I feel it is my duty to speak up,” said Könyves, who will address the rally.
