Hungary's largest opposition Fidesz party held a rally on Tuesday in downtown Budapest to mark the anniversary of 1956 revolution, MTI News Agency reported.
The gathering, held in the pouring rain, numbered about 35,000. A stage has been set up near Hotel Astoria for speakers, stands selling national flags, books, candles and other souvenirs have been set up near the stage.
Some stallholders are even selling toilet paper adorned with the picture of Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.
Police have put in place significant security measures in and around the venue of the Fidesz rally.
The perpetrators of the violence against protesters last autumn and the instigators behind them will be identified and held accountable, said Viktor Orban, leader of the main opposition Fidesz party.
"The actual perpetrators, the people who beat the protesters, their immediate commanders, top police commanders and the instigating politicians still think that they can sidestep responsibility, but they are mistaken," Orban said.
Last autumn "the human dignity of peaceful citizens was stomped in the mud" by police hiding behind masks "with the silhouette of the government responsible for the actions visible behind them," Orban said.
The rally ended at about 5:00 p.m. local time, when participants began a march led by Orban through the city to the House of Terror Museum, a museum dedicated to portraying the excesses of the fascist in Hungary.
A number of far right demonstrators found their way into the crowd as the rally ended. They are carrying the red-and-white striped banners reminiscent of the WWII Hungarian Nazi dictatorship.
A similar rally held at the same location on Oct. 23 last year turned violent when a group of extremist anti-government protesters infiltrated the Fidesz rally and clashed with police afterwards.
It took place after demonstrators had spent weeks demanding the prime minister's resignation over a leaked speech in which he admitted to lying about the state of the economy to win elections.
Source: Xinhua
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