Protests in Hungary as New Government Accepts EU Migration Pact

Demonstrators marched through Budapest in protest against the EU’s migration pact—and booed Hungary’s Prime Minister Péter Magyar when he appeared on a balcony.

Earlier this year, the relatively new party Tisza won the Hungarian election held in April. This ended the 16-year successful rule of Viktor Orban and his party Fidesz. Immediately following the election victory, Tisza’s more liberal orientation became noticeable. Among other things, they soon opened up to more immigration and to being more accommodating towards the EU.

Yesterday, however, a demonstration against the EU’s migration pact was held in Budapest. The protest was organized under the banner “Peaceful March Against the Migration Pact.” According to Daily News Hungary, the demonstration gathered supporters of both the former ruling party Fidesz and Mi Hazánk (“Our Homeland” in Swedish).

The demonstrators chanted, among other things, “Viktor! Viktor!” and “traitor.” According to organizers and participants, the protest was meant to mark opposition to the EU’s migration pact, which will come into effect in the union on June 12, 2026.

Hand heart gesture and booing

When the demonstrators passed the Prime Minister’s office, Prime Minister Péter Magyar appeared on a balcony. Videos circulating online show him smiling, waving a Hungarian flag, and making heart hand gestures toward the protesters.

The crowd’s reactions were mixed. Some booed and chanted slogans against Tisza, while others continued marching without stopping. According to videos published by both government critics and supporters, there were exchanges between demonstrators and the prime minister, but no serious incidents have been reported.

A massive protest is taking place right now in Budapest. Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest against migration. Péter Magyar stepped out onto the balcony of his office and, from there, taunted the protesters in an outrageous manner, while they chanted… pic.twitter.com/MMC7ROvTAb

— JB (@ladysweden) June 5, 2026

After the incident, Magyar wrote on social media that he had greeted what he described as a demonstration of about 1,000 people. He also published a video where demonstrators are seen making insulting gestures and shouting taunts, while he responds with heart hand gestures.

????????????Thousands are protesting in Budapest against the new government's decision to accept the EU Migration Pact.

PM Peter Magyar is already facing public backlash over migration policies.

New Hungarian government wasted no time embracing EU agendas. pic.twitter.com/Pv1jSgQxcZ

— Mario ZNA (@MarioBojic) June 5, 2026

Disagreement on the meaning of the migration pact

Mi Hazánk leader László Toroczkai and several of the protest organizers claim that the new EU rules will force member states to either accept migrants or pay if they refuse.

Representatives of the Tisza government reject that interpretation. According to the Hungarian news site Telex, Interior Minister Gábor Pósfai has said that the government opposes both migration quotas and illegal migration, and that Hungary will maintain and renovate its border fence.

Prime Minister Péter Magyar has claimed in parliament that the migration pact contains several stricter measures compared to previous EU policies, including faster processes and strengthened border control. He has also said that member states can choose alternative forms of solidarity, such as technical or operational support to countries under migratory pressure, instead of taking in relocated migrants.

According to Telex, Hungary’s potential obligations within the solidarity mechanism would be limited and could be replaced with aid to frontline states such as Greece or Malta.

Rumors about migrants contributed to mobilization

The demonstration was held after claims spread on social media that a number of migrants from the Middle East had secretly arrived at the Kecskemét air base under Polish military escort.

The claim apparently originated from an anonymous article on the Fidesz-friendly site Pesti Srácok. Fact-checking site Lakmusz reports that it found no evidence for the claim. The information has also been denied by both the defense ministry and Hungary’s migration agency, and available flight data reportedly does not show any signs of such arrivals.

Despite the claim not being substantiated, it spread widely online and was used by several people to encourage participation in Friday’s demonstration.