Anti-government protesters get into fight over donations

Early Wednesday morning, a meeting of the Hungarian National Committee 2006 (Magyar Nemzeti Bizottság 2006; MNB 2006), formed by anti-government protesters during the month-long demonstration on Kossuth Lajos tér in October, ended in a fight over donations collected on the square. According to hirszerzo.hu, several former protesters wanted a share of the donations which were seized by police during the evacuation of the square on October 23 and returned a few days ago.

The MNB 2006 holds a meeting every evening at 10:00 p.m. at the Magyarok Háza (House of Hungarians) after the anti-government protest at the Batthyány Eternal Flame. On Tuesday, several former Kossuth tér protesters demanded a share of the money collected at the square, claiming financial hardship. Gábor Bene, who was chairing the meeting, ended up getting into a fight with one of those demanding money.

After the incident, three or four "aggressive participants" were banned from the meeting, said László Gonda, a leader of MNB 2006. He added that the 13-member committee needs to be "cleaned," and those who have no "self control" should be banned.

The safe where the money was stored had been seized by police during the evacuation of the square but recently returned.

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