Around 50,000 people protested in Budapest following revelations of widespread abuse in Hungary’s state-run children and youth institutions. A government report from 2021, released by the opposition on Friday, documented approximately 3,000 alleged cases of abuse. Critics accuse the current administration of Prime Minister Viktor Orban of withholding this report from the public.

The protests called for Orban’s resignation amid growing public outcry. This incident adds pressure to the government ahead of Hungary’s parliamentary elections scheduled for April 2026. Polls currently show opposition leader Peter Magyar’s Tisza Party leading ahead of Orban’s Fidesz party.

The revelations and ensuing demonstrations highlight increasing discontent with the government’s handling of sensitive social issues, influencing the political climate as election season approaches.