no MMA!

Thousands of Hungarians gathered outside the country’s parliament in Budapest Saturday in protest at changes to the new constitution they say infringe on civil rights.

After a demonstration on Thursday, protestors and a number of NGOs including Amnesty International launched a second rally against a package of measures due to be adopted Monday.

The so-called ‘fourth amendment’ includes forcing students who receive state grants to stay and work in Hungary after their studies, and a limitation to the powers of the constitutional court.

Opponents claim the changes will accelerate an assault on democratic structures started by the Fidesz-led government in 2010, and have also drawn criticism from the European Commission.

[Image via Agence France-Presse]

rawstory

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission has expressed concerns over a vote in Hungary’s parliament next week to change the constitution, arguing it contravenes EU rules in areas such as the judiciary.

Reuters

The State Department joined European Union leaders this week in cautioning Hungarian lawmakers to tread carefully on controversial amendments to their nation’s constitution.

“These amendments deserve closer scrutiny and more deliberate consideration,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement. “They could threaten the principles of institutional independence and checks and balances that are the hallmark of democratic governance.”

The Washington Times

Hungary‘s domineering prime minister, Viktor Orbán, is coming under mounting European pressure to shelve changes to the constitution planned for next week which are seen as an assault on democratic rights and liberties and a boost to his executive power.

In a statement reflecting deep-seated anxiety at the direction in which Orbán is taking Hungary, Germany and three other EU countries called for Brussels to be given new powers allowing it to freeze EU budget funds to a member state in breach of Europe‘s “fundamental values”.

guardian