Prime Minister Viktor Orban says the United States has “pressed hard” on Hungary for supporting gas deal with Russia. Thousands of Hungarians took to the streets of Budapest Sunday to demand the resignation of government officials, including local tax chief Ildiko Vida and Prime Minister Viktor Orban. About 10,000 people marched to the Economy Ministry calling for Vida, the head of Hungary's tax collection agency, to step down. Vida and some of her colleagues recently had travel bans against them by the U.S. government, allegedly for corruption. Some demonstrators also called for Prime Minister Viktor Orban to leave office. These protest come on the heels of larger demonstrations on October 28 protests, where an estimated 100,000 marched to protest Orban’s plans to tax use of the Internet. On a state visit to Germany Sunday, Orban revealed that the U.S. government is pressuring Budapest on the construction of the Russian South Stream gas pipeline which is set to pass through Hungary. “United States presses hard against Hungary,” said Orban. The right-wing leader went on to say that Washington sees his administration’s decision to support a deal with Russia to as a sign of closer ties to Moscow. “We do not aim to approach to anybody, but we also do not aim to leave others behind,” said Orban. Hungary is one of the few European countries that have not supported sanctions imposed against Russia in the fallout of unrest in Ukraine. Source URL |
