Trianon 100 – Hungarian parties commemorate Trianon centenary
The Trianon Peace Treaty, concluding the first world war, was signed on June 4, 1920. Under the treaty, aimed at “digging the grave of Hungary”, two thirds of the country and one third of its population were ceded to neighbouring countries, ruling Fidesz said in a statement on Thursday.
“No other nation in the world has survived such a tragedy and truncating,” Fidesz said, adding that “thanks to consistent government and national cooperation in the past ten years, Hungary is stronger than ever before during the past century”.
“The strength and cooperation of Hungarians have helped us resolve any crisis, and the country is growing economically, financially, and culturally,” the party said in its statement.
The document slammed the leftist parties, however, accusing them of seeking to make Hungary weak and lose it national identity, a country “which could be economically exploited, politically controlled and where they can resettle migrants”.
Read alsoVast majority of Hungarians believe Trianon Treaty was ‘unjust, excessive’ – survey
Hungary’s Left “seeks to replace the national government with a puppet cabinet which could complete the mission of Trianon”, the statement said, adding that its parties are “ready to give up Hungary’s national sovereignty, destroy the nation’s identity and its economic achievements for power and money”.
The Hungarian nation does “not only have a past but will have a future, too”, President János Áder said in Parliament.
“After a hundred years, tormented by two world wars, Trianon, economic crises, with over 40 years of a communist-socialist detour and a failed revolution behind us … here we are, we are alive,” the president said in his address.
Hungary’s geographical borders were changed in 1920 but “nobody can deprive us of the right to maintain the nation’s spiritual boundaries”, Ader said.
Commemorating the centenary of the Trianon Treaty, the group leader of opposition LMP said that 100 years after the “shameful dictate” the Hungarian nation today still stands “as one and united”.
Read also100th anniversary of Trianon: The memoir of the Hungarian delegation about signing the Treaty
“The Carpathian Basin is a common legacy and common future, but those who say that one should look only into the future are wrong. The decision made in Trianon is a tragedy that will always stay with us,” László Lóránt Keresztes told a press conference in Budapest.
He added that even after a century, the Hungarian communities in the annexed parts of the country have shown that they want and can remain Hungarian despite many trials. At the same time, the Hungarian communities in several states are “under political attack”, which he said is unacceptable.
Péter Ungár, a party lawmaker, said that “Trianon is with us every day”, adding that Hungary’s EU membership does not “relieve [us from] the trauma of Trianon”.
“We, however, can commemorate it, which is the first step in reaching a national consensus,” he said.
He called the peace treaty “unjust” and “mistaken” which led to a geopolitical disaster.
“The lesson learnt is that leading international powers can act against Hungary any time, and that Hungary can only count on itself in global politics,” Ungar said.
Source: MTI
It should be a sad remembrance of the millions who lost their lives . In a pointless war. Started by Hungary. Who paid the price. End of. My family, (Hungarian) heavily paid the price of the war, in terms of so many dying. The punishment that Trianon gave was appropriate.
Austria-Hungary could not go to war without the consent of the Hungarian Prime Minister. Tisza delayed his consent for as long as he could but finally had no choice but to agree. All the major belligerents had agendas which waging war provided an opportunity for fulfillment of national goals and therefore, all had culpability in the war, although Germany was made to take the lions share of the blame. The promise of Hungarian territory to be ceded to neighboring countries, like Roumania, enticed them to join the Western Powers. Giving away Hungarian territory was easy to the Allies and cost them nothing. However, Hungary has paid the price for the last century. The only thing that Hungary was guilty of was its policy of Magyarization which engendered so much resentment in the territories where other nationalities were dominant. This is the sin which Trianon was the punishment, not for starting the conflagration of WW1.
Dear Paulus, If I remember right, It was still Austro-Hungary empire. Hungary was essencially separate from Austria EXCEPT the Agreement kept the power of army of BOTH countries under Austrian rule. Austria started WWI ! And Austria even managed to take some land from Hungary in the Trianon Treaty.
I agree with Paulus, and in a way I agree with Markus too. However, Markus, if you allow me, you seem to underestimate that 1. among the many states wanting war, Germany was the one who wanted it the most. Without German massive, and in some aspects largely unjustified, mobilization, the war would have not escalated to the extent of a continental deflagration. 2. For as much as HU may have been left little choice in the matter, it neverthless had a choice. It entered war because like all other European states it believed war will be a brief affair, a matter of few battles.
The rest, world war, defeat, Trianon, followed quite naturally. No war comes without sufferings, sacrificies and, finally, right of prey, prize punishment.
Steve Tarnay, your approach is immature. Hungary was no victim. Like it was no victim during ww2 either,no matter what that very ugly statue in Budapest Liberty Square wants us to falsely believe.
it should be noted that hungary did NOT lose 2/3 if its country. it lost 2/3 of its EMPIRE. this is like the british complaining they lost India and hence 85% of their country.
really, Hungarian revisionism is just absolutely pathetic. get a grip on yourselves.