Thousands in Hungary march against Internet tax

As reported in 'The Japan News' : The Associated Press, BUDAPEST (AP) — Tens of thousands of protesters marched Tuesday against a plan by the Hungarian government to tax Internet use from 2015. The rally, the second in three days objecting to the scheme, was also a sign of growing discontent among mostly younger citizens against Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s policies centralizing power and increasing the role of the state to the detriment of private enterprise. Orban’s governing party, Fidesz, won its second consecutive two-thirds majority in April and he is starting his third four-year term. After conflicts from 2010 with the European Union and criticism from the United States on new laws, lately the Orban government has been reproached for intimidating independent civic groups and for its efforts to deepen ties with Russia. Speakers outside the Economy Ministry called on Orban to withdraw the plan to force Internet service providers to pay 700 forints ($2.89, €2.27) per individual subscriber and 5,000 forints per business subscriber every month.Speech