Who are the heirs of the Hungarian Revolution?
Hungary commemorated the Revolution of 1956 this week. 62 years ago Hungarians of all stripes and classes rose up against the Communist regime and Soviet hegemony. The invasion of Soviet troops put an end to the uprising. Commentators disagree as to who has the right to claim the Revolution for themselves.
Orbán selling us out to the Russians
Although Prime Minister Orbán praises the sacrifices the martyrs of 1956 made for the Hungarian nation he continually betrays the country, the leftist daily Nápszava laments:
“The fact is that in 2009 he entered an alliance with Vladimir Putin, a former KGB spy who laid a wreath at Budapest's memorial to the Soviet Soldiers who died in the 1956 Revolution and who's convinced that the collapse of the Soviet Union is the biggest tragedy in Russian history. ... Viktor Orbán is now ensuring that even our grandchildren will be dependent on the Russians. Because if the big plan works out they too will still be footing the financial and political bill for the Paks II Nuclear Power Plant.”
Opposition is incompetent and lacks vision
Nothing will come of the opposition's demonstration against the government, which took place once again on the anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution, the independent website 24.hu criticises:
“Demonstrate, demonstrate, demonstrate. In recent years the opposition's policy has consisted of little more than organising marches. It's time to wake up to the fact that in today's situation such demonstrations are futile, if not downright harmful. ... It's also incomprehensible how such a team of speakers could be put together. There is absolutely no need for ten people to talk at a demonstration. There can only be one explanation for this: in Hungary an opposition politician is defined as someone who speaks at opposition demonstrations. Beyond that they have no other ambitions or skills.”