Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 13, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleThousands marched in Budapest demanding PM Orban's resignation over a child abuse scandal at a juvenile center. Seven arrests have been made.
By Krisztina Fenyo
BUDAPEST, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Thousands of Hungarians marched to Prime Minister Viktor Orban's offices on Saturday, led by opposition leader Peter Magyar, who urged the veteran nationalist to resign over an abuse scandal at a juvenile detention centre.
Protesters walked through Budapest's frosty streets behind a banner reading "Protect the children!", carrying soft toys and torches in solidarity with victims of physical abuse in a case dating back several years.
The prosecutor's office said on Wednesday that seven people had been detained at the state-run Budapest juvenile centre so far.
Orban, who faces what could be the toughest challenge to his 15-year rule in an election likely in April, condemned the abuse in an interview with news outlet Mandiner, calling it unacceptable and criminal.
"More and more revolting things keep surfacing on a daily basis, which I did not think were possible in this country," said Judit Voros, one of the protesters marching to Orban's offices on Castle Hill in Budapest.
Earlier this week, the government placed Hungary’s five juvenile correctional institutions under direct police oversight while prosecutors investigate the case.
Prosecutors have been investigating the centre's former director for months on suspicion of running a prostitution ring, money laundering and human trafficking.
A video published this week by opposition activist and former lawmaker Peter Juhasz prompted the resignation of the centre's acting director.
(Reporting by Krisztina FenyoWriting by Gergely SzakacsEditing by Mark Potter)
A juvenile detention center is a facility designed to hold minors who are accused of committing crimes. These centers aim to rehabilitate young offenders while ensuring public safety.
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of people for exploitation purposes, including forced labor and sexual exploitation. It is a serious crime and a violation of human rights.
Physical abuse involves intentionally causing physical harm to another person. It can include hitting, slapping, or any other form of violence that results in injury.
Police oversight refers to the mechanisms and processes in place to monitor and evaluate police conduct and operations, ensuring accountability and transparency in law enforcement.
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