2014 Hungarian Internet tax protests

2014 Hungarian Internet tax protests Tüntetés - Kossuth tér, 2014.11.17 (2).JPG Demonstration in Kossuth Square, Budapest,17 November 2014 26 October – 17 November 2014 Mainly Budapest Planned Internet tax PM's Russian affinitieshttp://www.ibtimes.com/hungary-next-ukraine-protests-show-country-ripe-conflict-between-russia-europe-1725744 Is Hungary The Next Ukraine? Protests Show Country Ripe For Conflict Between Russia And Europe International Business Times Dennis Lynch 18 November 2014 Corruption allegations Centralization allegations Claims of violating democratic normshttps://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-criticism-boosts-hungarys-dissent-movement-27339480 US Criticism Boosts Hungary's Dissent Movement ABC News Pablo Gorondi 3 December 2014 Wider democratic freedomshttp://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/hungarian-protests-show-growing-opposition-orban-309880 Hungarian protests show growing opposition to Orbán EurActiv 10 November 2014 Resignation of PM Viktor Orbán Internet tax proposal cancelledhttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29846285 Hungary internet tax cancelled after mass protests BBC News 31 October 2014 Following civil demonstrations in other subjectshttps://www.economist.com/news/europe/21633856-more-anti-government-protests-little-change-prime-minister-opposing-orban Protests in Hungary: Opposing Orban The Economist 22 November 2014http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/several-thousand-march-in-hungary-in-anti-graft-protest_1509664.html Several thousand march in Hungary in anti-graft protest Zee News 4 December 2014 Non-partisan protest groups Government of Hungary Balázs GulyásZoltán VajdaEmília NagyTamás Lattmann Viktor OrbánMihály VargaAntal RogánTamás Deutsch 100,000 on 28 Octoberhttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-hungary-internet-protest-idUSKBN0II18N20141029 Around 100,000 Hungarians rally for democracy as internet tax hits nerve Reuters Marton Dunai 29 October 2014 6http://444.hu/2014/10/27/hat-embert-vett-orizetbe-a-rendorseg-a-fidesz-szekhaz-megdobalasa-miatt/ Hat embert vett őrizetbe a rendőrség a Fidesz-székház megdobálása miatt 444.hu 27 October 2014 In late October 2014, anti-government demonstrations were held in Hungary, which were triggered by the government's announcement of a proposal to include the taxation of Internet usage in the Taxation Law, to be in effect from 2015. The ruling right-wing coalition's larger party, Fidesz made their proposal public on October 21, which is meant to extend the existing telecommunications tax to Internet usage. The proposal designated a 150 HUF/GB tax rate (with 150 Ft being around $0.62, £0.38, or €0.49) paid by the internet service providers. Later, a cap was proposed: HUF 700 per month (individuals) or HUF 5,000 (companies). This idea, possibly coupled with other issues surfacing around the government prompted multiple, generally peaceful demonstrations in Budapest and in other cities in and outside Hungary. The amendment to the law is universally referred to as the "internet tax" (Hungarian: internetadó) by Hungarian and global media outlets and critics, although Fidesz was not using the term in their proposal. Following mass protests and international critics, the Hungarian government officially cancelled the proposed tax on internet data traffic on 31 October 2014. Tax reform As part of its economical reforms, Fidesz started to draft the new version of the Tax Law for 2015. Minister of National Economy Mihály Varga announced the proposal on October 21.http://www.investor.hu/news/trading/20141021-jon-az-internenetado.html Jön az internenetadó (sic) Here's the internet tax October 21, 2014 Investor.hu Hungarian October 29, 2014 September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924035730/http://www.investor.hu/news/trading/20141021-jon-az-internenetado.html dead According to the draft, Internet traffic would be taxed with a 150 Ft/GB rate irrespective of the type of data transmitted.http://hvg.hu/tudomany/20141021_Kiderult_brutalis_lesz_az_internetado_mer Kiderült: brutális lesz az internetadó mértéke Hungarian 21 October 2014 Reactions Online A Facebook page named Százezren az internetadó ellen ("Hundred Thousand Against the Internet Tax") was created on October 21, the same day the proposal was made public, by Balázs Gulyás, a 27-year-old political blogger, who is also the son of Socialist politician Zita Gurmai.http://hu.euronews.com/2014/10/28/interview-with-organizer-of-budapest-protest/ Kicsoda Gulyás Balázs, a netadó elleni tüntetés szervezője? Who is Balázs Gulyás, the organizer of the protest against the tax? October 28, 2014 Euronews Hungary Hungarian A week later, on the 28th, the page had more than 225,000 "likes". On Twitter, multiple hashtags became associated with the tax and the demonstrations, the most widely used is #internetado ("internet tax"). Others include #netado ("net tax") and #internettax. The tax and the demonstrations sparked the creation of memetic images, mocking Fidesz and its chairman, prime minister Viktor Orbán, but some also mocking the demonstrators.http://hvg.hu/tudomany/20141022_internetado_memek Internetadó: ömlenek a zseniális képek, beindult a mémgyár Hungarian 22 October 2014 Demonstrations thumb|200px|A "candlelight vigil" with thousands of protesters holding up their phones thumb|200px|Demonstrators at Heroes' Square in Budapest Gulyás acted as the main organizer of the two main demonstrations at Budapest, also making speeches to the crowd present. The first event was on the 26th in the early evening hours, and instantly got international media coverage. Tens of thousands of people gathered,http://www.politics.hu/20141027/protesters-demand-withdrawal-of-proposed-internet-tax/ Protesters demand withdrawal of proposed internet tax Politics.hu 27 October 2014 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20170625153454/http://www.politics.hu/20141027/protesters-demand-withdrawal-of-proposed-internet-tax/ 25 June 2017 dead dmy-all and while the demonstration's intention was peaceful, hundreds of people attacked the Fidesz party headquarters after the event finished. The building's fence was toppled and its windows were broken in, many people hurled broken computer equipment at the building, including CRT monitors. The day ended with no riot police intervention, though they were assigned to the scene after some time to guard the building.http://www.politics.hu/20141027/demonstrators-attack-fidesz-hq/ Demonstrators attack Fidesz HQ Politics.hu 27 October 2014 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20170610083002/http://www.politics.hu/20141027/demonstrators-attack-fidesz-hq/ 10 June 2017 dead dmy-all Six people were arrested, including a well-known LGBT activist Milán Rózsa.http://www.fovarosi-hirhatar.hu/index_cikk.php?hh=artatlanul-keszul-meghurcolni-a-rendorseg-egy-tuntetot Ártatlanul készül meghurcolni a rendőrség egy tüntetőt? Fővárosi Hírhatár 28 October 2014 Despite the demand of the demonstrators, Fidesz made it clear they will introduce the tax next year, but they proposed an amendment to cap the tax at 700 Ft/month/subscriber for home users and 5000 Ft/month/subscriber for business users, while stating they intend the tax to be paid by the ISPs rather than the end users.http://index.hu/gazdasag/2014/10/27/itt_a_modositott_internetado/ Itt a módosított internetadó Index.hu 27 October 2014 The demonstrators, not finding this satisfactory, gave an "ultimatum" to the government to abandon their plan in the next 48 hours or they would face another demonstration. Since Fidesz did not retract their idea, another demonstration was held on the 28th in the early evening hours. Simultaneously, similar events took place in multiple cities in Hungary, and also in Warsaw, Poland. All these later events ended without any vandalism, although riot police was guarding the parliament building. Reuters estimated the number of people approximately 100,000 at the second Budapest demonstration, which was concluded with Gulyás saying that "this is only the beginning", and projected another gathering for November 17, the day the parliament will vote on the modified Tax Law. International European Commissioner for Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes called the tax proposal as a "terrible idea". Her spokesperson said "it's not a question whether the tax is legal or not. First, if you take it in the domestic Hungary context, it's the latest of what a lot of people would see as troubling actions. It's part of a pattern and has to be seen as part of that pattern of actions which have limited freedom or sought to take rents without achieving a wider economic or social interest".http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/commission-slams-hungarys-internet-tax-309559 Commission slams Hungary's 'Internet tax' EurActiv 28 October 2014 On 22 October 2014 Kroes added, through her Twitter account, the proposal "is a shame: a shame for users and a shame on the Hungarian government".Kroes Neelie Twitter https://twitter.com/neeliekroeseu/status/525057867335081984 28 May 2015 22 October 2014 Last Week'''s John Oliver satirized the Internet tax proposal and other steps of the Orbán cabinet in his late-night talk television program.http://comment.blog.hu/2014/11/03/internetado_798 Az internetadón röhög Amerika is Comment.com 3 November 2014 Withdrawal of the proposal Following mass protests, the Hungarian government decided to drop the idea of proposed Internet tax on 31 October 2014. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said "this tax in its current form cannot be introduced" and added the protesters misunderstood the government's intention.http://444.hu/2014/10/31/orban-visszavonult-es-gyozott/ Orbán visszavonult és győzött 444.hu 31 October 2014 Orbán also commissioned MEP and fellow Fidesz member Tamás Deutsch to organize the conditions for so-called "national consultation" and compile its questions.http://www.hir24.hu/belfold/2014/10/31/internetado-deustch-felel-a-konzultacioert/ Internetadó - Deutsch felel a konzultációért Hír 24 31 October 2014 28 May 2015 2 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150602035529/http://www.hir24.hu/belfold/2014/10/31/internetado-deustch-felel-a-konzultacioert/ dead On 17 November 2014 at "Public Outrage Day" protest, while celebrating the abolition of Internet tax proposal, tens of thousands protested against government corruption by chanting slogans including "Orbán out!", "Europe", "Democracy" and "Regime change".http://www.politics.hu/20141117/thousands-protest-against-corruption-govt-policies/ Thousands protest against corruption, gov't policies Politics.hu 17 November 2014 2015-05-28 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528225316/http://www.politics.hu/20141117/thousands-protest-against-corruption-govt-policies/ 2015-05-28 dead This event marked the end of demonstrations against the proposed Internet tax, however protests have continued in other subjects (against corruption, reorganization of road taxes, luxury lifestyle of some leading Fidesz politicians etc.) Background and analysis Some media outlets speculated about the possible reasons behind the fact that the demonstrations are the largest anti-government events since the protests in 2006 against then-ruling socialist party MSZP. Fidesz won the elections in 2010, gaining supermajority in the parliament, making them being able to pass or change legislation without hindrance from opposing political forces. They also won again in the 2014 election. Party chairman and prime minister Viktor Orbán used this political power to introduce several changes according to his political visions, like economic opening towards nations Eastward outside the European Union, notably Russia. Fidesz also crafted the new constitution of Hungary (now referred to as the "Fundamental Law of Hungary") on the basis that the existing one was a legacy after the fall of communism in 1989, being a heavily modified version of the communist-era constitution adopted to a democratic, capitalist state. thumb|left|Orbán's Russian affinities is subject of domestic and international critics. Possible reasons for the demonstrations' popularity include Fidesz's austerity measures and new taxes affecting the telecommunications, energy, and banking sectors, the dissolution of the private pension system, the adoption of a new constitution crafted solely by Fidesz, the approval of the new "Media Law", the decision to agree with Russia about a loan to support the two-reactor expansion of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, and the allegedly corrupt nationalization of tobacco shops. Two focal issues which demonstrators are well aware of are the corruption accusations of government-related officials by the United States government,February 2016 and the fact that Fidesz itself opposed and criticized a similar internet tax when rival MSZP considered it in 2008. According to the Medián's public opinion poll published on 10 December 2014 support for Fidesz–KDNP government coalition dropped by 12 percentage points (from 38 to 26%) among all voters, following mass demonstrations against the Internet tax proposal and US-introduced entry ban on six Hungarian officials. Fidesz lost more than 900,000 potential voters and this was the largest monthly decrease since the Őszöd speech when MSZP suffered serious loss of support.http://index.hu/belfold/2014/12/10/peldatlan_nagyot_zuhant_a_fidesz_nepszerusege/ Példátlanul nagyot zuhant a Fidesz és Orbán népszerűsége Index.hu 10 December 2014 In the following months, Fidesz also lost its two-thirds majority when Veszprém individual seat was taken by Zoltán Kész, an independent candidate in a by-election.https://www.wsj.com/articles/hungarys-ruling-party-loses-two-thirds-majority-after-by-election-1424634646 Hungary's Ruling Party Loses Two-Thirds Majority after By-Election The Wall Street Journal 22 February 2015 Another by-election on 12 April 2015 saw the supermajority lose a second seat, also in Veszprém, to a Jobbik candidate.Dull Szabolcs Győzött a Jobbik a tapolcai választáson http://index.hu/belfold/2015/04/12/idokozi_valasztas_ajka_sumeg_tapolca_parlament/ 12 April 2015 Index.hu Only the far-right Jobbik was able to take advantage of the decline of support for the Fidesz.Jobbik rides high in Ipsos poll http://www.politics.hu/20150317/jobbik-rides-high-in-ipsos-poll/ 17 March 2015 Politics.hu 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094612/http://www.politics.hu/20150317/jobbik-rides-high-in-ipsos-poll/ 4 March 2016 dead dmy-all Protests were organized by non-governmental organizations (NGO) and private individuals excluding the opposition parties who only responded to the events. Demonstration organizers also emphasized party logos, banners, slogans not to present at the events. As a result, former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány criticized the demonstrators.Ez nem az a tánc, Feri! http://nol.hu/belfold/ez-nem-az-a-tanc-feri-1506241 24 December 2014 Népszabadság However pro-government media claimed, in fact, opposition parties were behind the protests. Pesti Srácok.hu'' called the organizers as "pseudo-civil activists" as Gulyás was formerly a member of the Socialist Party, while Zoltán Vajda, leader of "Sixty Thousand For the Private Pension Funds" Facebook group was an Együtt–PM candidate during the 2014 municipal elections.Együtt–PM-es politikusok állnak a magánkassza-tüntetés mögött http://pestisracok.hu/tuntetnek-magankasszak-miatt-fovarosban/ 25 November 2014 Pesti Srácok.hu In June 2015, the anti-government protesters formed the New Hungarian Republic (ÚMK) civil organization and announced referendum initiatives in a number of issues.Egyesületet alapítottak az Orbán-ellenes civilek http://index.hu/belfold/2015/06/10/egyesuletet_alapitottak_az_orban-ellenes_civilek/ 10 June 2015 Index.hu See also 2006 protests in Hungary Internet tax List of protests in the 21st century References 32em External links Százezren az internetadó ellen – the demonstrations' Facebook page (in Hungarian) Category:Protests in Hungary Category:2014 in Hungarian politics Category:2014 protests Category:Opposition to Viktor Orbán