Opposition parties demand rooting out neo-Horthyism

The opposition Socialists, Democratic Coalition (DK) and Párbeszéd parties held a demonstration in Budapest on Saturday, calling for the rooting out of “neo-Horthyism” and protesting against a planned march by the radical nationalist Mi Hazánk to commemorate the 100th anniversary of inter-war regent Admiral Horthy’s return to Budapest.

Socialist electorate head Ágnes Kunhalmi told the event in Szent Gellért Square that a memorial dedicated to the victims of the white-terror would be erected next to the recently restored monument for the victims of red terror near Parliament if the opposition “pro-republic parties” win the 2022 elections.

“Horthy rejected the republic and democracy and pursued anti-Budapest policies during his reign,” Kunhalmi said.

He created a regime that current Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and ruling Fidesz openly consider an example to follow, she added.

The Horthy regime lifted anti-Semitism to the level of state policy and obstructed political alternation, Kunhalmi said. In the current Orbán regime, the name of US financier George Soros “is used as an expletive”, and new laws are being prepared to prevent opposition politicians from effectively raising their voice in parliament, she added.

Horthy led Hungary to war and Orbán said only a few days ago that by 2026, the Hungarian army would be well-prepared to fight a local war, Kunhalmi said.

Socialist leader Zsolt Molnár accused Fidesz “and its ally [the radical nationalist] Mi Hazank” of building “a neo-Horthyist society” but the Socialists and its opposition partners want to lead Hungary back to its European, democratic and social-democrat roots in 2022.

DK lawmaker Zsolt Greczy said Horthy headed a regime that was guilty of killing great artists, chasing away scientists, introducing the world’s first Jewish laws and sending some 200,000 Hungarians to their death in the Don River bend in the Soviet Union.

“Our task is to completely root out neo-Horthyism by 2022,” he added.

Local Újbuda district Mayor Richárd Barabás, of the Párbeszéd party, said “neo-Nazis” were planning a march along the cultural thoroughfare of the district in support of “evil ideologies”.

Source: MTI