Thousands of Hungarians marched to Prime Minister Viktor Orban's offices on Saturday (December 13), 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 (December 10) 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.

Earlier this week, the government placed Hungary’s five juvenile correctional institutions under direct police oversight while prosecutors investigate the case.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (DECEMBER 13, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING ACROSS CHAIN BRIDGE WITH TORCHES

2. PROTESTERS MARCHING

3. PROTESTER MARCHING AND HOLDING BANNER READING (Hungarian) “Child protection = abuse”

4. PROTESTERS MARCHING, SHOUTING (Hungarian) “Filthy Fidesz”

5. PROTESTERS MARCHING ACROSS BRIDGE

6. LEADER OF TISZA PARTY PETER MAGYAR MARCHING ACROSS BRIDGE

7. VARIOUS OF MARCH ACROSS BRIDGE

8. TEDDY BEAR IN HAND, PRESENT FOR CARE HOME CHILDREN TO BE COLLECTED AT PROTEST

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) PROTESTER, ZSUZSANNA BODNAR HOLDING TEDDY BEAR, SAYING:

“The government must absolutely resign. But I think that they should resign for other reasons as well. So this only strengthens that thought in me. Frankly, I think that there is no other European country where governments would not resign over this.”

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) PROTESTER, JUDIT VOROS, SAYING:

“More and more revolting things keep surfacing on a daily basis, which I did not think were possible in this country.”

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) PROTESTER, JANOS APRO, SAYING:

“I think this is only the tip of the iceberg what we are seeing. There is a lot more to it, as I hear it from the podcast media.”

12. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (DECEMBER 13, 2025) (TISZA PARTY - Access all)

13. PROTESTERS GATHERED IN FRONT OF PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE

14. MAGYAR SPEAKING FROM STAGE

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) LEADER OF OPPOSITION TISZA PARTY, PETER MAGYAR, SAYING:

“Why are you silent? Why is the President of the Republic silent?”

16. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS BOOING

17. MAGYAR SPEAKING

18. (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) LEADER OF OPPOSITION TISZA PARTY, PETER MAGYAR, SAYING:

“This story has come full circle by now. This is the end of this power (government).”

19. PROTESTERS SHOUTING (Hungarian): “Resign”

20. (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) LEADER OF OPPOSITION TISZA PARTY, PETER MAGYAR, SAYING:

“Our country has reached a point when we cannot wait anymore; we must not stay silent anymore.”

21. PROTESTERS WATCHING

22. PROTESTERS SHOUTING (Hungarian): “We will not tolerate it”