Protesters Amass Outside Hungary's Parliament for Fifth Evening of Demonstrations

A huge crowd of protesters gathered outside Hungary’s parliament on the evening of December 16 for the fifth night of protests against Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s controversial plan to overhaul the country’s labor laws and courts.

On Wednesday, December 12, Hungary’s Parliament passed legislation that called for the creation of a new court system with judges appointed by the justice minister who would rule over elections and corruption cases. Parliament also approved a labor law amendment, called a “slave law” by opposition politicians, that raises the maximum overtime employees can work to 400 hours a year, or one extra day a week. The legislation has sparked huge protests in the evenings following Wednesday’s vote.

This video shows protesters waving flags with the Parliament building visible in the background. Credit: Marta Pardavi via Storyful