We Will Not Back Down!
2025/1.

When thousands of us marched silently across Liberty Bridge, with our mouths taped shut, in dignity, under a sea of aHang flags, it wasn’t only public life that shifted—it was something within us, too.

We lived through iconic moments together: even in silence, our seriousness and determination were tangible. They gave our demonstration such strength and elevation that it shone through in every recording and made headlines in the international press.

Yes, we were strong. We drew strength from the hundreds of activists lined up behind the flags at the forefront of the march, and also from the 17 local demonstrations organized across the country at the same time by our county-level groups, the aPonts. Years of work have come to fruition in those weeks — in those very moments, aHang's network is truly becoming national.

On May 13, just before midnight, Fidesz MP János Halász submitted the so-called “transparency” bill of silencing, which—true to Orbán’s promises—was meant to be part of the “spring cleanup,” that is, silencing critical voices. According to the draft law, the so-called Office for the Protection of Sovereignty could propose that the government place on a register those organizations it deemed a threat to Hungary’s sovereignty. These organizations would then be barred from receiving donations through the 1% of personal income tax allocations; they could accept foreign funding only with the permission of Hungary’s financial intelligence unit, that is, the National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV); their directors, founders, and supervisory or control board members would be required to file asset declarations, just like MPs; and both the organizations and their leaders would be classified as politically exposed persons (PEPs). The goal was crystal clear: to silence critical and independent media outlets and civil society organizations.

An unprecedented wave of unity began. We joined the joint statement initiated by Civilizáció, in which hundreds of civil society organizations and editorial teams declared: No country was ever built on blacklists. Shortly after, we took part in a spectacular action in Budapest, where we unfurled three massive banners at the Castle Tunnel. The banners displayed the civil heart symbol and the slogan of our joint stand: "We were created for you. We are with you. We remain because of you."

Fidesz turned the propaganda machine up to full speed. Leading politicians implicitly threatened journalists, suggesting the law would affect them too, all while insisting this was not political revenge but simply about "transparency in public life."

We also launched a protest petition , which was signed by nearly 50,000 people raising their voices against the silencing of the independent press and civil society. But when we saw that events were once again being organized only in the capital, we decided to take people to the streets across the whole country. Together with our local groups, the aPonts, we announced a series of demonstrations.

Within 11 days we organized protests in 17 towns and cities nationwide.

We were present in Békéscsaba, Kisvárda, Szentes, Nyíregyháza, Miskolc, Szolnok, Salgótarján, Orosháza, Szeged, Pásztó, Tiszaújváros, Makó, Gyula, Budapest, Kazincbarcika, Hódmezővásárhely, and Veszprém.

Nearly 60,000 of us called on the Budapest-Capital Regional Court not to grant parole to Krisztián Bene, the so-called ‘alkaline doctor,’ convicted for pouring caustic soda on Erika Renner’s genitals.

When the news broke on February 26 that parole was being considered, we immediately launched a petition to stop this leniency from being granted to the perpetrator. Within a very short time, tens of thousands had joined, and soon masses of people stood up for Erika Renner, the woman against whom the “alkaline doctor” committed one of the most shocking crimes.

Because we knew the decision on parole could be made at any moment, we delivered the petition only six days later—already with 50,000 signatures—to the Budapest-Capital Regional Court. Despite the short timeframe, dozens of compassionate people joined the press conference accompanying the handover, to stand in solidarity and express their protest by their presence and with a single white rose. We also read out a message from Erika Renner, who thanked the aHang team and the signatories for their enormous support.

The government has backed out of the “Mini-Dubai” project planned for the Rákosrendező site and granted the capital city the right of first refusal to purchase the land.

We launched our protest petition against the project in the spring of 2024. Then, at the beginning of 2025, the number of signatures surged — nearly 30,000 people signed it in just two weeks. Such a massive protest clearly played a role in forcing the government to retreat! Alongside political and legal pressure, our mobilization became impossible to ignore.

On March 8, the Hungarian Medical Chamber (MOK) and the Hungarian Doctors’ Trade Union organized a demonstration in Budapest’s Kossuth Square to protest the state of the healthcare system. According to MOK, Hungarians’ health deserves better, and a comprehensive reform of healthcare is needed—lives are at stake.

At the demonstration, aHang’s Budapest activist group—the Budapest aPont—built a giant Jenga tower. Each block was labeled with a healthcare profession, such as physiotherapist, surgeon, dietitian, or paramedic. The collapsing tower symbolized how the healthcare system is falling apart without its workers.

At the same time, aHang local groups organized parallel actions in Nyíregyháza, Orosháza, Békéscsaba, and Szeged, to demand improvements in healthcare.

In Szeged, nearly 100 people gathered in front of the old Hospital No. 1, issuing a symbolic “medical prescription” for what Hungarian healthcare needs. In Békéscsaba and Orosháza, local aPont activists stood with doctors and healthcare workers. In Orosháza, participants built a healthcare Jenga tower out of shoeboxes, while in Békéscsaba, they wrote the sector’s most pressing problems on prescription slips. In Szolnok, the local aPont placed a Jenga installation outside the Hetényi Géza Hospital.

A section of the M30 motorway was inaugurated in 2021, but little more than two years later such serious defects appeared that it had to be closed. We held a public forum on the restoration of the M30, which drew huge public interest— and Minister János Lázár joined us at our invitation!

About two hundred of us gathered at the Incubator House in Szikszó, where the event began with speeches.

In March, the government decided to close down Kondor Béla Primary School in Budapest’s District XVIII Havanna housing estate. Parents and local residents began protesting, and within just a few days more than 3,000 people had signed our petition against the closure.

In December last year, we launched a petitionto preserve door-to-door bulk waste collection in Budapest. The background: MOHU, Hungary’s national waste management concession company, had published a plan to replace the system with collection points in each district.

More than 8,500 people signed our petition, and nearly 2,000 of us sent emails to MOHU urging them not to change the system. The issue sparked major outrage and, thanks to our campaign, we received numerous media inquiries and were invited to the Budapest Assembly’s Committee on Climate Protection, Transport, and Urban Development to present our concerns.

In February, the Csengey Garden in Miskolc — which in recent years had become a unique community and cultural space — came under threat. The city council adopted a decision allowing the garden to be built over for a new educational institution, even though several unused buildings could serve that purpose.

Our local group, the Miskolc aPont, together with partners (the civil group Desk Mates, and independent municipal representatives Tibor Szopkó and Dénes Szarka), launched a petition to save the garden, which gathered over 1,600 signatures.

We did it! We gathered enough signatures from Hungary to support safe and accessible abortion in Europe. This is a huge success! The My Voice, My Choice European Citizens’ Initiative aims to guarantee every woman in the EU the right to safe and free abortion — even if it is illegal or barely accessible in their home country. For the European Commission to take it up, one million signatures must be collected. Every year, 39,000 women die because they lack access to safe abortion.

On March 27, 2025, we held the first-ever National Oligarch Day in Kossuth Square. We launched this event because we felt it was finally time to call things by their name: today in Hungary, billions in public funds are siphoned into private equity funds, always ending up in the same hands — those close to the ruling party. On this day, we did not mince words. We “celebrated” those without whom perhaps this country would still be functioning.

The centerpiece of the satirical yet painfully serious event was the oligarch throne, covered in red velvet. In front of it we displayed the names of companies belonging to Lőrinc Mészáros’s business empire — though the list could never be complete, as by the time the banner was printed, yet another company had entered his portfolio. Anyone could sit on the throne for a photo, but most found it unpleasant, frightening, and even painful to place themselves in such a role, even for a moment.

Visitors could also “win” a public procurement contract on a spinning wheel, where every slot but one read NER (System of National Cooperation). Through the game, we wanted to show that it’s no coincidence who ends up receiving public funds. A private equity fund was also present — in the form of a plastic box — where participants could symbolically throw in “state” forints.

At another stand, visitors could guess the fortunes of Hungary’s wealthiest businessmen — including István Tiborcz, László Szíjj, István Garancsi, and Gyula Balásy — and imagine what they would do if they could step into the shoes of “tender king” Lőrinc Mészáros for a day.

We launched our campaign on lowering the VAT on food more than two years ago. Our goal is to reduce VAT on basic food items to 5% and lower the tax on all other foods from the EU-record 27%.

Since 2020, prices in Hungary have risen by over 58%, with food inflation surpassing 80% over the past five years. The government first introduced price caps, then margin caps, but in reality these measures hurt consumers in the long run: once lifted, prices jump

This spring we asked our subscribers through a questionnaire how they had experienced the inflationary years. We learned which products they thought were hit hardest by price hikes, and which food categories they considered most urgent for VAT reduction.

Respondents said the rising prices of vegetables, fruits, bread, and dairy were the most painful. The survey clearly showed it makes sense to continue pushing for lower VAT.

Our campaign to double and index the family allowance to inflation has been running almost as long as aHang itself. One of the very first petitions on our platform was launched in 2018 by the Chance Lab Association and the Dignified Livelihood Working Group and has since been joined by more than 70,000 people. It is more relevant than ever today: the base amount of the family allowance has remained unchanged since 2008—12,200 forints.

Highlights of the campaign:

In 2020, the Chance Lab Association sent an open letter to decision-makers demanding that the family allowance be doubled. They emphasized that it is crucial for protecting families and preventing child poverty. Thirty organizations joined the letter as co-signers, showing the weight of the issue.

Also in 2020, Katalin Novák was appointed Minister without Portfolio for Families. More than 4,000 of us sent emails to her, as well as to State Secretary for Social Affairs Attila Fülöp and Deputy State Secretary for Family Policy Attila Beneda, urging them to double the allowance—especially urgent during the COVID-19 crisis. We received no substantive reply.

Public opinion polls regularly include the question of raising the family allowance, and the vast majority always support it. Yet despite this broad support, decision-makers continue to sweep the demand off the table. They point to other family support schemes, such as tax breaks, income tax exemptions, or the CSOK housing program—but the problem is precisely that these do not reach everyone. By contrast, the family allowance is universal, supporting every family with children, including the most vulnerable: large families, single parents, families with disabled children, and those in poorer financial situations.

Today in Hungary, tens of thousands of women and girls miss school, work, or social life simply because they cannot afford basic hygiene products. Period poverty is real. And while it is rarely discussed, its consequences are severe.

Research shows that one in ten women—and in disadvantaged areas even one in three or four girls—lack adequate access to pads or other menstrual products. This is not just an inconvenience: it is humiliation, exclusion, and a question of equal opportunity. Girls who miss school receive worse grades and have a harder time finding jobs later. For adult women, it can mean job loss and isolation.

That is why we launched a petition —already signed by more than 10,000 people—calling on local municipalities to provide free menstrual pads to women and girls in need.

There are already good examples in Hungary: in Budapest’s 8th and 9th Districts, pads are available free from vending machines; in the 2nd District, “menstruation-friendly” bathrooms have been set up. Some clinics, schools, and even cafés have also implemented measures. But this is still far from enough. Every community needs solutions like these—including those that currently provide no support at all.

aPont Miskolc had a busy half-year, marked by numerous successful campaigns and actions. In January, the group continued its intensive campaign on the M30 motorway, which had begun the previous year. This was essential, as a motorway built with more than 200 billion forints became unusable when a section had to be closed due to road defects, impacting a large portion of the county’s population. Following several roadside demonstrations, the group organized a public forum attended by Minister of Construction and Transport János Lázár, along with other officials and independent experts. At the forum, aPont Miskolc not only pressed the minister and the ministry for answers, but also presented a comprehensive package of proposals. Their demands included measures for traffic calming, compensation for drivers, and reconstruction of the motorway. The activists can be proud of the results achieved: the Arnót roundabout was expanded, ending traffic jams; volunteers were invited to monitor the reconstruction milestones as members of a ministerial working group; and most importantly, in 2026 local motorway users will receive significant discounts as compensation.

In March, aPont Miskolc learned that the Csengey Garden, one of the city’s most popular cultural spaces and the last major undeveloped downtown lot, was under threat. The newly elected Fidesz-led city government planned a completely unnecessary 4 billion forint development there. The group quickly launched a petition to save the garden, which gathered over 1,600 signatures within days. The twist in the story is that the local Fidesz–KDNP municipal caucus first voted unanimously in favor of the development — but after our petition, the very same caucus unanimously rejected it.. Activist work on the ground is vital. Sometimes confrontational tools are necessary, but at times it is just as important to celebrate—and this time there was something to celebrate. Together with local residents, the activists organized a festive jazz concert. People showed their gratitude by bringing lots of cakes, while aPont Miskolc presented an overview of their work so far.

In April, responding to public demand, aHang’s Miskolc group organized a protest against the curtailment of the right to assembly. More than 300 people joined to express their commitment to freedom and democratic rights, and many signaled their intention to join the local team.

In the first half of the year, the Békés county group focused on two directions: taking part in nationally significant actions in coordination with other counties, and addressing key local issues. Among the former were placing flowers at courthouses in solidarity with judges and judicial independence, and building a precarious “tower” out of shoeboxes to highlight the crisis in healthcare and the need for quality services.

Two major issues arose in the county during this period. The first was healthcare-related: the Orosháza hospital suspended inpatient cardiology care, and weekend and holiday emergency care was not available. The local aPont launched a petitiondemanding improvements. The issue also reached the national sectoral policy agenda: State Secretary for Health Péter Takács visited the site, although he ultimately did not meet the participants of the demonstration announced for the same time.

The second issue was shale gas extraction in the Sarkad Basin. The environmental and long-term effects are severe, and with expansion plans in the news, the problem could soon directly affect many more residents. aPont Békéscsaba consulted locals, contacted expert partners, and is working on a broad campaign of information and mobilization. While the lack of concrete information has made local mobilization more difficult, national green organizations are engaged, and our local group considers building local connection points a key task.

Other local campaigns were also launched: petitions for the long-promised renovation of Gyula’s railway station, and for a firework-free Békéscsaba is.

In the first half of 2025, aPont groups in Csongrád County focused on water resources, solidarity actions, support for healthcare, and resistance to the government’s attempts to undermine civil society.

The aPont group in Szeged worked to improve the reconstruction plans of a railway crossing that has made everyday life difficult for local residents. They also held film clubs and discussion events, and took part in national solidarity actions such as demonstrations for judicial independence and healthcare. At every action, the aim was to ensure active participation by those involved.

Water management in the Homokhátság region became a key issue of interest, with several events on water poverty and access to clean drinking water. During Water Week, the local group organized multiple programs. Building on this, their next major campaign targeted arsenic removal from drinking water in Makó and surrounding towns. Activists held street outreach in many places, organized a public forum in Makó, and submitted freedom of information requests.

In Szentes, activists campaigned on the uncertain future of the local hospital, pressing its operator to inform residents about what to expect as the institution visibly declined. On July 1, National Healthcare Day, the local aPont held a silent march: more than 200 people walked from the hospital to Kossuth Square.

The Budapest aPont was established in December 2024, with partly different tasks from other aPonts: in addition to local issues, it also supports the central team’s actions. Budapest activists were present at the City Hall protest against ending door-to-door bulk waste collection; at the Budapest-Capital Regional Court for the handover of the petition against parole for the “alkaline doctor”; and at Kossuth Square during aHang’s first National Oligarch Day.

They also joined nationwide aHang actions: placing flowers at courthouses in support of the Hungarian Association of Judges, and building a giant Jenga tower at the Hungarian Medical Chamber’s healthcare demonstration on Kossuth Square to symbolize the fragile state of the system. Their biggest action was taking part in the silent march against the silencing bill, where thousands walked in silence across Liberty Bridge. The Budapest aPont also joined the joint action with aHang and other civil organizations at the Castle Tunnel, unfurling massive banners with the civil heart symbol and the slogan: “We were created for you. We are with you. We remain because of you.”

The group has also taken up its own local issues, such as protesting the fencing off of Fisherman’s Bastion, campaigning for public toilets in Józsefváros, for Kiss & Ride parking, and against ill-conceived school reorganizations in outer Pest. Their campaign against plans to place a cross on the Liberty Statue received the most media coverage. As part of this, they organized a torchlight march for freedom on Gellért Hill, and launched the “Solidarity Statues” movement, in which activists placed symbolic crosses on more than 50 public statues.

The year 2025 began in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok with a petition to reinstate the maternity ward in Mezőtúr. The collective effort brought quick results: the ward temporarily reopened—only to be closed again. The campaign therefore continues. Meanwhile in Szolnok, a team of future aPont volunteers came together. On the day of the judges’ demonstration, they placed flowers at the courthouse entrance in support of judicial independence.

In March, Szolnok aPont activists also joined the Hungarian Medical Chamber’s protest. In a flash mob outside Hetényi Géza Hospital, they used a giant Jenga tower to symbolize the collapsing Hungarian healthcare system. The action drew attention to the Mezőtúr maternity campaign and to broader issues like staff shortages, outdated equipment, and underfunding, all of which also affect the county.

Only days later came news of a massive Chinese battery industry project planned for Szolnok. Despite this being a huge challenge for a small group of volunteers, they drafted a petitionagainst the electrolyte plant almost immediately. Very soon they organized street outreach at city council meetings, public forums, markets, the flea market, and on the streets—collecting signatures against the battery project in rain, wind, and blazing sun.

They also launched a direct email writing campaign targeting the company behind the project, and by the end of June organized a demonstration around the handover of the petition, where Akárteis (It Could Be You) and Greenpeace also spoke.

The communities in Pásztó and Salgótarján were also active in public life. In Pásztó, aPont launched a monthly program series, alternating between political discussions and lighter community-building events, to engage and involve as many locals as possible. One highlight was a thematic city walk, where participants visited both problem areas and success stories in Pásztó. Afterwards, they voted on their experiences, and the group sent a letter to the municipality with proposals for improvements. As a result, several new pedestrian crossings were built—a tangible outcome of community participation.

In Salgótarján, a large-scale campaign was launched for a direct Salgótarján–Budapest railway line. The aim was to show how transport isolation severely hampers the region’s development, labor retention, and economic prospects. Activists collected about 2,000 signatures in the town’s squares and market, and in late June held a public forum where experts and residents discussed the railway’s importance. The event was streamed online to reach more people and attract new activists.

The first half of 2025 was full of planning and action for the activists of Nyíregyháza aPont and the emerging Záhony aPont.

In January, activists in Nyíregyháza identified their top priority issue, but struggled to find a supporter base around it—especially as local developments shifted attention elsewhere. The partial closure of the pediatric surgery ward in the county hospital concerned residents far more, so that became the subject of their first petition of the year. This also offered a chance to highlight the lack of information about local battery manufacturing plants.

Since March, our activists have been steadily uncovering the secrecy surrounding the planned factories. At the same time, they have held ongoing street outreach for the full reinstatement of pediatric surgery services, for an online platform providing transparent information on battery production facilities, and in connection with national campaigns, such as the fight against period poverty and resistance to the “transparency” bill.

In Veszprém, our organizing only began in March, yet several actions and events have already sparked collective thinking and action.

Local volunteers joined multiple nationwide campaigns and made them visible in their own community. For the campaign to double the family allowance, they set up outreach stands around the city, engaging passersby in conversations. They also joined the wave of protests against the silencing bill: about 400 people attended the Veszprém demonstration, showing the local demand for unity. During the event, the group called on residents to remind their MPs of the oath they took upon election—to represent the interests of their constituents.

After a pollution incident in Balatonfűzfő, support for the related petition poured in from across the county. Signatories demanded accountability from those responsible, transparent communication with residents, and guarantees to prevent such incidents from happening again.

There are not two Hungarys. No matter how hard those in power try to build parallel realities, or how relentlessly they attack every critical voice that dares to disagree with them, we will not back down. Our work and our responsibility are here, and we are not going anywhere.

We are preparing for difficult months ahead: a “hot” autumn is coming, with every side ramping up their campaigns. It has often been said that we should expect the dirtiest campaign in history—and it will almost certainly be so. The coming half-year will be difficult not only because propaganda will be pouring from every tap, but also because it will be hard to hold on to our clear judgment.

What is aHang’s task and responsibility? To point to those who are responsible. Those who are accountable for the looting of the country. Those who voted for laws that trample on our freedom. Those who, abusing their power, take away opportunities from the most vulnerable.

More and more of us are standing up for change. In the past six months, more than 130 petitions have been launched on our site. Visit our platform, SzabadaHang, explore the campaigns, and join the signatories!