Hungarian Protestors Demand Academic Freedom For Top Arts University

Attendants of the rally formed a chain in the streets of central Budapest before the crowd gathered at a main square outside Parliament, demanding autonomy for the school and freedom for artistic endeavour and education.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s supporters have long argued that it was time for a shift in culture towards conservative values to end what they call the domination of the arts in Hungary by liberals and left-wingers.

“For a university to be able to operate autonomously is the foundation of democracy,” said Marta Barbarics, who attended the rally.

“If a university cannot teach in a way as its citizens deem appropriate then there are serious problems and the leadership of a university does not quit for no reason.”