Hungary: Thousands protest govt's education, NGO policies

Tens of thousands of protesters have demonstrated in Hungary to oppose government policies that are seen as limiting academic freedom and intimidating civic groups that receive foreign funding.

Recent amendments to the country's higher education law are viewed as an attack on a Budapest university founded by Hungarian-born American financier George Soros.

Lawmakers will soon debate a proposal from Prime Minister Viktor Orban's governing Fidesz party to force non- governmental groups that receive more than 7.2 million forints (USD 24,450) a year from abroad to register with authorities.

Today's rally overflowed from Heroes Square, a Budapest landmark. Student Flora Fekete said she attended because "I don't want the government to follow the Vladimir Putin model for Hungarian society."

Soros' "open society" ideal contrasts with Orban's plan to make Hungary an "illiberal state."

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)