Government official calls for ‘peaceful’ commemorations on October 23

Budapest (MTI) – State secretary Csaba Dömötör has called on politicians to mark the upcoming anniversary of the 1956 revolution in a “peaceful and dignified” manner.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Dömötör said that those attending October 23 commemorations should “set aside political considerations at least for one day”.

“1956 is not a party political cause but a national affair; we owe it to the heroes of the revolution to show that Hungary is undivided when it comes to our most important values,” he said.

Referring to anti-government demonstrations on the same day in 2006, Dömötör said that the then Socialist government had “destroyed a peaceful holiday”.

Christian Democrat lawmaker István Hollik, at another press conference, accused the left wing of hiring provocateurs to disrupt the commemorations.

“While decent people would like to commemorate the heroes and their brave quest for freedom, some signs suggest . that the left is preparing to disrupt the holiday,” he said.

On Tuesday, Gergely Gulyás, deputy leader of ruling Fidesz, addressed a similar call to participants. “Nobody should be afraid to express their opinion or exercise their right of assembly, but we think appropriate behaviour can be expected from the whole of Hungary’s political community”, he said.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI