Hi Everyone,

Albert Camus in his 1956 writing ,’The blood of Hungarians’ speaks about the Hungarian revolution of 1956 with admiration, and criticizes Europe of hesitation, and calls the attention to Europe’s responsibility too.

As you all can see on CNN and BBC,or other news channels in the reports from Hungary, my country is in serious protest against the Gyurcsany government, and want Gyurcsany to resign from the position of prime minister. Hungary is in deep moral and political crisis, on the edge of revolution, as the prime minister continues to ignore the direct public reaction to his leaked speech in media.
The direct causes that has led to the critical point :
The main cause , the spark for the big protest happened soon after the tape recording from the non-public socialist party parliament representatives back in May 26 had come to daylight to different media last Sunday afternoon in which Gyurcsany himself says that they(the government) didn't do anything for 4 years, just} lied. The tension had already been in the air about the planned economic steps in forms of different previously planned demontrations by different organizations, like trade unions, students, families' representatives, chemists,medical and hospital workers and many more, after getting to know the government's plans about influencing their lives, which was so much different from the ones promised and outlined by the Socialist and liberal government before April, to be more precise, was 180 angle different from what people had been told before about all segments of Hungarian economy.
The content of the recording of prime minister Gyurcsany Ferenc is clearly shocking in different fields, parts shown in foreign media too, and has created a well-understandable general condemnation and protest feeling in Hungary!
You must know that in April at the general elections that MSZP and SZDSZ won again, so could stay in office for another 4 years, the majority of voters cast their votes based on deliberately forged and misleading forecast by MSZP. As it came to daylight, till before the April elections, to be able to stay in power there were severely forged statistics, desinformation, without knowing what the government had already known and hidden for years about the bad economic situation. Not only Hungarian people had been misled, but the European Parliament too!
The recording is a clear evidence of lies and economic crime, admitted by the prime minister himself, that is Gyurcsany Ferenc. To me it's a clear fact that it was not Gyurcsany's interest to 'present' the public with the truth about his government and his own lies in their ruling period before April, 2006. It's clear that Gyurcsany later could get to know that someonewas trying to leak a recording of the secret socialist (MSZP) meeting of May 26 to media, most probably from the person himself or herself, and thus was trying to create an emergency action plan for that case. That seems to be a clear sign, because soon after the news was leaked to the public via media, he didn't seem that worried or puzzled. He seemed well prepared for that situation facing the matter. He even put the whole text on his blog, trying to make people see it's not uncomfortable for him.He completely misunderstood his time was over with that: even the general left wing visitors on his blog, except his close friends, condemned his lies (80 percent of the left wing visitors). On a nationwide commercial tv channel (TV2) after the leaked news and people listening the recording 73 percent voted in sms that Gyurcsany should immediately resign. TV2 is generally considered as left wing biased, rather than neutral (the second should be expected from a channel actually).
Despite fact that the Head of State, generally respected and accepted Solyom Laszlo called Gyurcsany for condemning the despised way he spoke about Hungary in the leaked recording and comment on the lies which led to the present moral crisis, Gyurcsany sticks to that his speech was fair in every detail, and didn't feel to apologise from the nation. What is more, as he says, he feels proud of the content of the recording, his speech and says he didn't lie and he is the only person who can go ahead with the reforms, his 'package'.
THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS GYURCSANY HIMSELF!
people generally don't accept Gyurcsany as prime minister after hearing the recording, it's clear, but he doesn't want to, and doesn't even feel to resign. Some left winger intellectuals are also asking him to resign, to solve the tension created by his 'problem solving attitude'.
Gyurcsany seems to be only interested in keeping his position ! Because of Hungary's special constitution,CURRENTLY THERE ARE ONLY TWO CONSTITUTIONAL WAYS TO REMOVE A BAD PRIME MINISTER:
1 IF HE RESIGNS HIMSELF.
This doesn't seem to be the case! he sticks to his power to the last ditch like those communists before 1989.He lies to everyone, even abroad.You can't take any credit of his words. the latest example is his meeting with German Prime minister, Angela Merkel, where he told the Hungarian media representatives thigs which were not said at the meeting at all. Hearing the forged way he presented the meeting to Hungary, especially as if Angela Merkel supported his 'brave' package approach, the Chancellor's news agency had to issue later that the way Gyurcsany tried to 'interpret' the content of the meeting was clearly not true.
2. IF THE PARTIES FORMING THE GOVERNMENT PULL THE BAD GUY BACK ,AND PRESENT THE PARLIAMENT WITH A NEW AND GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE CANDIDATE - IN PRACTICE, WITH THEIR OVER 50 PERCENT MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT THEY COULD EVEN DO THAT WITHOUT THE AGREEMENT OF THE OPPOSITION.
after the scandal, MSZP (the socialists) and SZDSZ(the liberals) said that they absolutely supported Gyurcsany, so they don't feel he should be replaced. This is the core of the problem, as neither of the two ways could be done. So people feel that after such big tension in the air caused by Gyurcsany, the government parties ignore the public. Because of this people are peacefully but firmly protesting in Hungary, especially in front of the parliament.
It's evident that with this whole tension, moral ,political and economic crises caused by the ruling parties, especially the policy of Gyurcsany, if the first two things won't work, there will be a third one. It's called revolution! To avoid that, I'm asking everyone to protest in all forms to make MSZP and SZDSZ to come to their sober senses , hopefully somew of them still posses some, and replace the prime minister, as it's only them who can do that within the scope of the currently applicable constitution of Hungary. In any other country the guy would have been replaced by now, without question. But our constitution is like that now.
On Kossuth sguare in front of the parliament people yesterday declared that they want a new constitution too (possibly because of the obstacles before).
I will quote some of the leaked (on CNN or BBC portals you will find the original , creditable translations, I'm sure).Be prepared for big surprise if you haven’t heard yet. Gyurcsány said today to a Hungarian paper that he doesn’t understand people’s reaction to the recording, he doesn’t see any bad thing about its content.

SOME SHOCKING SENTENCES THAT GYURCSANY SAYS ON THE LEAKED RECORDING:
-It is clear that we lied through the past one and a half - two years. It was absolutely evident that the things we were saying were not true.
-And in the meantime we didn’t do anything in the past 4 years. Nothing.You can’t tell me any meaningful
governmental action which we can be proud of, except that we brought back our power (at the election) by the end. If we have to make an account of what we did for 4 years, what will we tell?
-I nearly died that we had to pretend that we were governing. Instead, we were lying day and night and in the evening.
-…and hundreds of tricks that you don’t have to know helped us to survive. (this means crime, which is fairly a legal case too!!!)
-There will be demonstrations.So what? Sooner or later they will get tired of them and go home.
-My personal story is that let’s change this fucking country, or who will change it. Orban Viktor will change it with his team?

It’s clear from the recording that Gyurcsany and MSZP was doing everything, forging facts just to preserve its power.
I don’t want to use the so many foul and swearing parts of the recording and text here, where Gyurcsany speaks about Hungary like a secondary, despisable country. All these , the spoken truth by Gyurcsany is the thing that caused, and is causing the tention! He is the cause of the tension, and the only way to solve the problem is to change the prime minister. From the CNN interview, if you saw that, it was clear that the CNN interviewer asking just simple questions, made Gyurcsany a puppet figure, a fool, and he just realized that by the end! That way the whole world could get to know black and white what kind of idiot , a sick liar prime minister Hungary is having now. I guess there are a lot of people who could understand a problem from that.

As the government parties with their majority, before the April general elections had passed laws in the parliament (50 percent majority laws) influencing entrepreneurs and companies' life, they were highly misled by the lie to see a clear future and start making their own decisions and actions about their own enterprises for the future. Most probably the outlook seemed that way positive for many. They also cast their vote the way they did, because of that. However, MSZP, the 'Socialist' and SZDSZ , the 'Liberals', after winning the majority in April at the parliamentary elections, gradually told people the country needs reforms, so instead of benefits and that positive outlook about economy's condition, the time of severe restrictions has come.
that people on both sides of political field are clearly shocked now and feel this is a turning point.
Hungary's economy was the best in the region in 2002, when the Fidesz- MDF (Conservative) government lost the election. (that time we had chance to introduce Euro in 2007, forecast said. There was enough money left in the state treasure for the next (Socialist-Liberal) government, but without careful mind the socialists started giving all the money available to people to inscrease their popularity, saying 'people deserve more' (what they promised in their 2002 campaign -then they said the condition of the state was good, but people would deserve more benefits because of that. They acknoledged that Fidesz-MDF government left a lot of money for them and economy was in good shape. But the next years
they managed to distroy all positive things in economy. They managed to create previously unseen budget deficit based on the mindless waste of money policy on social benefits, and misleading the public.
However, after a year it was evident that the Medgyessy government (Socialist-Liberal) 'spent' all the money without any responsible mind, and put the country in a really dangerous track, selling all state properties at reduced (pressed) prices (mostly to foreigners). Their voters were misled completely via their biased press majority, both audio visual, and printed. All we could hearfrom them was that everything was fine, and economy was fit. They encouraged people to consume more, to turn to banks to buy things on credit, visioning a good economic picture about the country, though the opposition, home and foreign economy experts became quite dubious about the 'born' results.
In 2004, in the autumn, prime minister Medgyessy became a burden , his party members got tired of him, mostly upon his party's lost EU parliamentary election in May 2004 (Fidesz won),with a little inside 'coup' within the Socialist party(MSZP) , the socialist and the liberals, with their narrow majority elected Gyurcsany Ferenc, a millionaire, with young communist background from before 1989, the 'system change' .(he was the leader of KISZ, the Young Communists' Alliance, he became a businessman and got many former state companies at a 'pressed' price in the early 1990s. He debuted as prime minister with his infamous 'No' campaign against double citizenship for Hungarian nationality people.

The main things that should be considered:
1. There should be enough pressure to be put towards the MSZP-SZDSZ government to pull back Gyurcsany!
2. Investors, financial people must understand that there is very big risk about Gyurcsany staying in power, in fact he is the real risk. First is that if he doesn’t intend to leave, or MSZP ,SZDSZ don’t intend to pull him back, people will be really tensed. I guess nobody will want that. On October 1 there is a nationwide local government election, (not parliamentary) where people can express their attitute about the ruling parties. It’s a way to say what they think with their vote about the present situation. Before the
scandal, Fidesz and its alliance was leading with 20 percent advantage over MSZP.
3. The fueled tension created seem to be the interest of only the government parties, as they could take the attention of people from real problems. Gyurcsany, in this tension, wants to provoke people with continuing his campaign journey in the country. (at the Hungarian Television House protest on Monday evening there were thousands of peaceful demonstrators, and surprisingly a violent group of about 100 people whom the police already knew from records wanted a fight. Violent football fans , and interestingly
there were policemen in private, attacking the unfortunate uniformed policemen who were protecting the house in bad equipment. It was strange for hours that no other group of protecting policemen were sent there, it seemed ’someone’ wanted them to be victims, and show the attack as evidence of violence to the public. It was only the government interest to turn everything upside down before the October 1 election.
4. EPP , the biggest fraction in Europa parliament clearly demands Gyurcsany and the government to leave after the recording content was known, but the Socialist fraction headed by Rasmussen said they would suppport Gyurcsany. It’s true, not all socialists there share the opinion, for example I heard the French woman prime minister candidate demands Gyurcsany to resign. Interestingly the communists do the same. It’s important that the socialist fraction should very soon revisit its opinion, as later I guess they might have certain moral and political devaluation in the long term, because of that. Gyurcsany’s visionary world of lies cannot be supported. Gyurcsany himself is the risk, and we are already in economic crisis, and if he doesn’t move, only god knows what comes! Then the responsibility will also tuch them-if not sooner. The chance is here in present.
5. I’d like to ask everyone to protest against Gyurcsany according to their means, to save peace the way if the prime minsiter is made to resign or the government parties pull him back. That’s the only way to solve the created conflict, there is no other way, as the present constitution doesn’t give us much choice. Gyurcsany doesn’t feel the depth of the problem, he should be made to understand from his circles, eg. the Socialist fraction in EP. Till it’s not late!!
Hoping the sober mind will speak about that!! It would be really, really, really important!!!

We are now in present, and the peaceful protests are continuing.

best wishes and peace,
Zoli

Hi Everyone,

Urgent calling for the freedom of the press in Hungary right now as the government parties are trying to brutally interfere. Please read and try to protest the way you can :

As you probably know, or saw in the news last week on Monday evening, from the Hungarian state television (MTV) building siege by the violent small part of the huge crowd, it was only HirTV that broadcast the events live. The tv channels reporter was gas-sprayed by the police and had to go through the crowd, but could make a very authentic report and broadcast of the violent happenings, the atmosphere in the air, and the fear and anger around. all big Hungarian channels televised the same pictures indicating 'pictures by HirTv', but they had only the picture, they had their own journalists commenting in the Tv centres. It was strange that no other channel dared to go to the 'front', or to he scene at all! Even BBC and CNN borrowed pictures and broadcast from HirTV.

Next day ,however the government parties MSZP(the socialists) and SZDSZ (the 'liberals') and several of their biased journalists from communist times declared a kind of boycott on HirTV because they reported on the case , and the way the tv did. It came as a complete shock, as they tv just did what is expected in a case like that, that is , reported on the events, and showed reality, that is the happenings. Next day , in an very angry voice the government biased MTV (Hungarian state television) leader didn't let HirTV reporters in the building to show the damage and film there, HirTV workers were driven out of the building like dogs.
MSZP and SZDSZ said they wouldn't go to HirTV studio or give interviews. Today I heard that the government is trying to prove HirTV was unfair, and 'legally' by that they might stop the channel from working. This approach is an absolute and evident ,brutal way of violating the freedom of speech and interfering in the freedom of the press. A kind of dictatorship.
Last week CNN made an interview with prime minister Gyurcsany about his scandal(the infamous recording) and then I could see that the interview was broadcast only on HirTv, people could read that
'only on HirTV'. I suppose CNN ,probably knowing something of the government's declared approach to HirTV they somehow wanted to show their sympathy by that. It's good to know that abroad there are journalists who think value the freedom of speech, and fredom of press. anyway CNN hired Erdelyi Akos, HirTV s journalist for several days to work for the channel.

Please protest against the latest scary deeds of the Hungarian government against freedom of speech and freedom of the press! Thanks in advance, any way you can do that!

Amnesty International is also examining the worrying cases from last Tuesday and Wednesday nights when during the street 'battles' with violent groups the police brutally beat innocent citizens, who were walking that way accidentally, or wanted to get to a place and couldn't. There were people leaving their homes when they were attacked brutally by the police.

Anyway, Hajos Andras , a well-known and popular musician and tv personality, an admittedly left wing liberal oriented person, a week ago went to HirTV and read his letter in which he reasoned why he asks Gyurcsany Ferenc to resign. He also mentioned that he thought it was important for him to read his letter and tell his opinion on HirTV first, and not on any other channel. By that very brave thing, he raised several levels in my eye, and now I feel that he is a person who is brave enough. He could lose his job as a tv person easily at a commercial channel ( which is biased anyway). Anyway Hajos Andras is the leader of the band Emil RuleZ, who are quite popular among young people. (They are the favourite band of my best friend's wife!!). Hajos seems to be a good man!

something really puzzling is going on in Hungary.
As you know last week on Monday there was a siege on Hungarian state television (MTV) in Budapest with about ten thousand peaceful people demanding Gyurcsany to resign. There was a group of violent people in front who wanted to invade the building. (one thing needs clarification: that night some people took off the EU flag from the wall of the building, but only to make room for a Hungarian flag, and then they put it back together with that, so it was not damaged at all!). Actually it was a provoked siege, and there are some mysteriuos things too. For example , why some non-uniformed policemen with higher rank took part in the violence, attacking those uniformed policemen protecting the building? Some people possibly knew what to do and exactly how...
Without creating some conspiration theory, it's strange the policemen in uniform couldn't protect themselves, no other groups of policemen came to their aid, they were helpless there, but right next days the police were really brutal having the right equipment and dissolved crowds in the streets. One thing is sure , this whole thing was not/ is not the interest of the opposition before the local government elections.

I'm also informing you all that the peaceful demonstrations are continuing everywhere in the country, and by every evening thousands of people gather in front of the parliament demanding Gyurcsany to resign. On Sunday there's the nationwide local government election(not parliamentary, so legally it can't take an effect on parliament). In a way is also an opinion cast about the government's work, as parties are involved. Despite the government parties were very weak on latest polls -taken before the scandal leaked out- , and the opposition can have chance for a big victory on Sunday, Gyurcsany has already said that his opinion is the same, he doesn't resign, and that can't be influenced by the nationwide local government election results on Sunday. I don't know what will happen if Gyurcsany still doesn't intend to resign after the local government election results... There are new segments leaked out of from the infamous secret MSZP party meeting from May in which another MSZP (socialist) representative Fillo simply compares voters to 'rats that are cornered need to have some holes provided in the walls to be able to escape through that'. Anyway Gyurcsany was not surprised at that style and words by his fellow party representative, so maybe they both do share the same opinion... Anyway, Gyurcsany's answer was to that 'We will do that'.
People are really tensed and Gyurcsany is the main cause of the tension. The government parties must understand that.

You can also go to outside Hungarian embassies in the world and protest, wearing white colour ribbons or clothes to protest against the Hungarian government's attitude to things and Gyurcsany's strange behaviour demand his resign.
In New York ,for example there are organized sympathy demonstrations, sympathysing with the peaceful demonstrations against the government in Hungary. On September 28, 29, and 30 between 17.00 and 21.00 pm the New York polgari kor (civilian circle) organizes ones, asking people to wear the white ribbon or white clothes as sign of protest. You can print the protest sheets in English on www.NewYorkPolgariKor.com, or can ask for more info from Szilagyi Akos at polgkornewyork@aol.com
The venue is : Manhattan, at the corner of 50th avenue and Broadway, opposite the '56 placards.

thanks for any help!
best wishes,
Zoli

Zoli,

Your posts speak of issues that are very heavy, very dangerous, and very frightening. You sound like you're very well informed as you deal with losing basic freedoms that everyone should have a right to.

My heart is saddened by the loss of freedom, the lack of caring and respect for others, and the power plays and lies that surround us on every political front.

All my best to you and your people (and to me and my people) as we try to safely navigate through the political, religious, and economic land mines that are everywhere.

Tim

Tim,

Thanks!! all the best to your people too!! Zoli

Zoli,

I just saw your comment over on the 'Some Thoughts" thread:

"the government parties suffered a historical defeat on Sunday, the whole country on the map is completely orange after the local government election. A great day that way! The situation in Budapest is also something hasn't been seen before!

Still, the key figure, the bad PM guy and government parties still ignore people... It seems their adrenalin level is 'rising' very slowly, (they may need some additional motivation to see the real situation through better glasses...)"

I didn't mention it when you first posted but there was quite a lot of live coverage of the situation in Hungary here on BBC News24.

Some friends were in Budapest earlier in the year when everything seemed so peaceful, so it was shock when the violence erupted.

It's good to hear that some things are already getting better, and I hope the situation continues to improve there without going through too much further turbulence.

Chris

dear all,

Hungary protests. At the Sunday nationwide local government election, where voters culd vote for party lists too, the opposition, namely Fidesz and its allience had a milestone victory over MSZP the socialists) and SZDSZ (the liberals), had gained very big majority over the government parties.
SZDSZ (the liberals-or rather the pseudo liberals, as i often call them) literally suffered such a serious defeat that they themselves admitted that they stopped being present in the country. Its their job to find the answer why voters completely turned from them in the country. They cannot be proud of their
perfrmance in Budapest either, which ,till Sunday they often referred to as a 'liberal city'. Demszky managed to rule Budapest for 19 years, and people got tired of him. SZDSZ had a unified list with MSZP in Budapest and in the majority of Hungary for the Sunday election, and as the result clearly shows, both MSZP and SZDSZ with the unified list lost really many votes, compared to earlier times.
Still Demszky could only 'win' with some special conditions, that is they had a unified list and a very dangerous and violent smaer campaign in the past weeks.
Except one county , Heves, in Hungary where the mandate numbers for the government parties and Fidesz are the same, all Hungary is orange, that is , bears the colour of Fidesz, the biggest opposition (civilian) party. That means, MSZP and SZDSZ suffered a historical, very serious defeat! The statistics show that Fidesz got new voters, that is many people have shifted from the government to the opposition, as a kind of protest. This local government election was also the one with the highest number of participation of voters since after the system change.
'wonders' have reached Biudapest too! In the past Demszky(the liberals, that is the pseudos liberals)and the socialists could consider Budapest as their 'fortress', having about 20 percent advantage over the opposition. This is not any more.This means , Budapest is not a pseudo-liberal ,socialist city any more! It was really disgusting and biased that the Lord Mayor always referred to Budapest as 'our city, the city of the Liberals. I clearly didn't see any real liberalism from SZDSZ and Demszky since 1994. I guess they just missed the 'liberal' party label... They were campaigning like 'Budapest is a liberal city, we won't let it be defeated. (you can ask who is 'we'...)

Since Sunday, the mandate numbers for SZDSZ (liberals) 9, MSZP 24, while the opposition has the same mandates: Fidesz 30,and MDF 3. nly with the Lord Mayor(Demszky) they have 1 mandate more, but they can't any more ignore the opposition's suggestions and opinion!

Anyway, on Sunday evening at Deak square at the tent of SZDSZ, there was a crowd of SZDSZ followers, and on a big screen people in the street could follow the happenings of the election results.
When for example, two people passing the tent started cheering over one SZDSZ('liberal') losing his position , that is the previous advantahe of their canditate on the screen had melted and the oppositin candidate took the advantage, a crowd of 'liberals' physically attacked the two people, and gave them punches. It was very serious, and i guess showed something of the tolerant behaviour of the party's mainstream. It's good that the public can learn about these violent things.

MSZP-SZDSZ suppported Demszky got 46.8 % , Fidesz-KDNP alliance supported independent lord mayor candidate Tarlos Istvan got 45.2 %, other opposition party ,MDF(right wing) lord mayor candidate got 6%, MIEP (right wing) got 1.7% , the communist lord mayor candidate got 0.55%. As all small parties clearly rejected MSZP and SZDSZ and Demszky, it’s clear, even if Fidesz and MDF together will have the same number of candidates as MSZP and SZDSZ in the metropolitan general assembly, overall, looking at the numbers, the government parties are not supported with majority anymore in Budapest!
46.8 % (government parties) is in minority in Budapest votes against 53.2 % !!!

Right after 7pm, the closing of the voting on Sunday, widely respected president, Solyom Laszlo, severely criticised the prime minister for not considering resigning, and does not even make apology over hurting the nation, and about the deliberate lies.
The infamous socialist prime minister, though admitting the defeat, doesn't intend to resign. What is more, on Monday he asked for a confidence voting in the parliament on Friday by the government parties (MSZP, SZDSZ). Both parties have already said that they will support Gyurcsany, the prime minister, despite anything, so it seems they haven't learnt anything. The sick liar Gyurcsany wants to keep his velvet seat and 'royal court' in every way., and wants to carry out his program.
He and his government deliberately misled all the voters about the state of Hungarian economy, so those people who voted for either the socialists, or the pseudo-liberals(SZDSZ) were completely misled, they didn't have any info what they vote for. That means, morally and politically the government and the prime minister is illegitime. This had never happened before in history, I'm sure.
people protest in several levels, and as by constitution only two ways are possible to remove the bad guy (the fallen prime minister) , that is , if he himself resigns, or the two government parties pull the confidence from him, the situation is very tensed. Neither option seems possible as both the prime minister and the government parties ignore other opinion than theirs. Very tolerant, you can say...

Also, interestingly, neither MSZP, not SZDSZ are willing to give interview to HirTV, (which is not biased by them). (A bit ironic was that finally MSZP on the evening of the serious defeat finally didn' want to give an interview to any media, and went to hold an urgent party meeting...)
On Monday, when the prime minister had already declared making a speech , it should have been broadcast live by different media. The state Hungarain tv channel, MTV had said they would provide media with their broadcast signal live, so ,for example HirTV, Echo TV, BBC, and Reuters, some minutes before the important speech they said they wouldn't do that. HirTV was the only one who could finally broadcast the speech live, as their tv workers could go to the window of tha room, and used a special wire whose transmission signals were caught by their car in the street, and that way they could provide live broadcast via satellite. The Hungarian state tv also tried to discriminate HirTV two weeks ago, and it seems they don't like HirTV much... But it seems HirTV viewers have significantly insreased, despite the threatenings.

Because nothing seems to change the mind of the government parties,and the Friday vote will be one with already known screenplay(that the government parties will support Gyurcsany) the biggest opposition party, Fidesz declared a big demonstration in front of the parliament for Friday. There are already many protesters on Kossuth square, every evening tousands of people demanding Gyurcsany to resign, but as Fidesz can call for several hundreds of thousands people at its open air gatherings, this will be something. So the crowd so far was meaningful in front of the parliament, but from now on there will be a giant crowd, demanding Gyurcsany to leave. Violence is not intended, as Fidesz has declared peaceful demonstrations. Huge crowds will be till Gyurcsany finally resigns, or the bad guy has been pulled back!!

The foreign media should see that there isn't any other way than removing Gyurcsany, as he is the core source of the tension, and his and his parties ignorant and dangerous attitute about ’problem solving’ will lead to something…People are so determined in protest and frustrated with Gyurcsany and his government that they are prepared to resist till the last in the streets. Gyurcsany is the source of tension. I guess if there are parties ,politicians who are still supporting prime minister Gyurcsany in this situation, may lose the confidence of their voters about them with that stupid policy in their own countries. The scandal is so obvious that it should be clear for them actually…
Confidence is not an easy thing to build.
If foreign politicians are interested in peace and normal, desirable, also thoughful and expert treatment of economy in Hungary, they will press MSZP and SZDSZ to pull the confidence from Gyurcsany. If not, they will support something else –more emerged tension- which I guess nobody wants…
Fidesz suggests temporary (limited period, say 1 year) government of experts to carry out the necessary reforms, whose members are suggested by the parties, till the earlier parliamentary election. Experts, rather than party people can be trusted ,- economically in the first place!!

Zoli
ps: sorry about possible typing or other mistakes- I’m still not properly slept.
pps: Chris, thanks for your attention too,hoping everything will remain peaceful-and Gyurcsany will be sent from office!

dear All,

The present situation in Hungary is even more worrying than before the vote on Friday!!!Friday was the darkest day in Hungarian politics. What a bad moral example to the nation. But it also showed that the government party member sin the parliement are equally responsible , and are guilty in ne way or another. One thing is sure: the lie has been stuck to them forever

events of the week:

1. Fidesz and opposition had a historical victory over the government parties of MSZP ( pseudo-socialist) and SZDSZ ( pseudo-liberal) won the nationwide local government elections. MSZP-SZDSZ have been also seriously weakened in Budapest, that is, the government parties and the opposition has the same mandate number,( only with the vote of the Lord Mayor they have
1 mandate plus).

2. After the historical defeat at the local government election on Sunday Gyurcsany made an announcement on Monday that he would ask for a confidence vote from the government parties on Friday in the parliament.
The speech on Monday was to be broadcast live via the Hungarian state television, MTV, and pass the live signal to other tv channels like HirTV, BBC, Reuters and Echo TV, however some minutes before the speech, MTV said they wouldn't broadcast it and couldn't give the signal to other media.
HirTV was very clever, and via a special cable through the window, HirTV's car could catch the signal and send it to HirTV via satellite. So, despite the 'difficulties' provided by MTV to media, HirTV could broadcast the speech live!

3. MSZP and SZDSZ days before the Friday voting procedure declared that they would support Gyurcsany and the government program 100%. From behind the closed doors of the MSZP meeting
about that loud shoutings could be heard. to the press they said everybody was for Gyurcsany.

4. On Friday the government parties, as they outlined days before, supported the prime minister (Gyurcsany) with 100%.Gyurcsany made a speech before the parliament, the opposition voted with 'No', the government parties said 'Yes'., and with their majority in the parliament Gyurcsany can remain prime minister. However, the thing that he will , isn't sure at all, as in case of Gyurcsany remained, Fidesz called for a big demonstration for Friday afternoon, after the voting. Hundreds of thousands took part in the demonstration in front of the parliament. From Friday on, every day between 5 and 6 pm there will be demonstrations till Gyurcsany is expelled, or he himself resigns.
this is a clear message, since then every day tens of thousands of people demonstrate on Kossuth square in front of the parliament. Big protests in the nea future are by different groups for their interests, like university students, teachers, the trade union of policemen for salary rise. Holders and smallholders are already obsctacle roads from time to time and demand their money and Gyurcsany to quit the office. On Friday Gyurcsany could safe his chair, but people will show him that he is the one who will leave, for sure. Right after the last Sunday local government elections respected head of state, Solyom Laszlo severely crtiticized the prime minister in his speech to the nation, and asked the government parties to solve the moral and political problem created by the Gyurcsany tape.
The clear message: Gyurcsany must go. Also, because of the infamous Gyurcsany tape, Fidesz sues Gyurcsany at court as at least 4 different types of seriuos crimes has been admitted by Gyurcsany himself. so legally, sooner or later the bad guy must be punished adequately. Fidesz leader, former prime minister Orban Viktor said that moral things in politics or elsewhere don't have red or orange colour(referring to parties) , moral should be white, and launched the Yes Hungary Charta for the moral purity of speech and deeds of politicians. As sign of protest against Gyurcsany and lies and violence protesters are wearing white dresses or white ribbons.


5. the today (Sunday) scandal is again a leaked tape recording, now the local government and region development minister, Lampert Monika is involved there. It is from the weekend secret MSZP party meeting after the voting, where she outlined her plans about the future treatment of the local governments the way that she would be able to act with preference to MSZP members about the money distribution for the disadvantage of Fidesz members at the region development councils. So it means, despite the severe defeat of MSZP by Fidesz in local governments at the Sunday nationwide election . I guess this biased behaviour which is not acceptable by law, will be an issue in the eu parliament, as i guess eu money is involved about that too. People and the opposition feel the minister should resign.


It seems, though the Europen Socialist fraction earlier submitted a unified support to Gyurcsany, in fact this unified 'support' is not at all that unified, as several eu socialist members were/ are not for that, and were not happy about making a unified eu socialist support to gyurcsany.
Hopefully more and more representatives in the socialist fraction will think so.


Gyurcsany was the political advisor of former PM, Medgyessy Peter (who was removed by Gyurcsany, 2 years ago,just to get the power himself). In a book by Debreczeni Jozsef, a politologist, Gyurcsany himself tells about that in 2001 he tried to persuade public servants to act against the Orban government, so that MSZP could get the power. With deliberate lies and misleading the public with a smear campaign against Fidesz, MSZP could get the power in 2002. without Gyurcsany's 'structure' politics of that kind, MSZP wouldn't have had chance to win in 2002 as people were generally satisfied with the Fidesz government achievements and performance. It seems the hatred in politics and thus in public life was managed to spread by this infamous person, Gyurcsany Ferenc. If he was not in politics, level of tension would be much lower. People feel that, so they demonstrate demanding him to quit premiership and political life.

The only key to solve the tension and moral and political crisis is if Gyurcsany leaves. That must be!!!
protesters are determined!!!

hoping everyone will have a nice week.
Zoli

dear All,

Yesterday another violation happened against the freedom of the press in Hungary!

the Hungarian media authority committee ,ORTT with its government party delegates' dominance there made HirTV pay 1 million HUF fine punishment for its live broadcast of the peaceful protest and the separate seige of the Hungarian state television (MTV) by smaller violent group in front of the big crowd on Szabadsag ter (Liberty square). This is a clear sign of biased attitude, best known from communist socialist times. (now we are ina kind of capitalist socialist era it seems, which might seem strange first, has some common features with some earlier times...)

The government parties (MSZP-pseudo socialist, and SZDSZ- pseudo liberal),right after the night of the siege on Monday evening ,(some weeks before), called for a boycott against HirTV, together with the Hungarian state television leader, Rudi Zoltan, who the next day excluded HirTV journalists and camera from MTV's building and prohibited HirTV to report on the damage seen inside. It's important to know that without HirTV, the country wouldn't have had the chance to learn about the protests and the strange police actions.The state television MTV didn't even had the intention to show the big protest and siege in front of its headquarters created by the infamous tape of prime minister Gyurcsany from May 2006.
Yesterday MTV played a half an hour film about Gyurcsany with the recent happenings, only supporting him, being offensively partial to him. It cannot be accepted, it's violation and oppression of basic rights and freedom of speech and freedom of the press. For some people to preserve their power it seems much better if nobody knows what's going on in the country. It rings a bell...

Yesterday Fidesz and KDNP parties of the opposition declared that they wouldn't visit the morning political program 'Napkelte' of MTV because of its biased attitude towards the government parties,and general disadvantegeous treatment of opposition politicians invited.

anyway the Hungarian radio's program Aktualis could get the tape record of last weekend's secret MSZP party meeting, where the party members and ministers said many suprising things.The radio has 3 hour recording, only a small segment of that has been leaked so far. The already mentioned government dominant ORTT committee said they would investigate. It seems ORTT wants to press and fine the radio if it leaks out anything later. Very transparent violation of the freedom of the press. Again, they don't want people to hear the truth via that. Before 1989 this kind of attitude was widespread...

Today scandal is that the office of the only by paper prime minister Gyurcsany wanted to order the churches when to ring the bells in the country to commemorate the outbreak of the revolution of October 23 ,1956. He also wanted to say when to start the commemoration ceremony in Saint Stephens basilica in Budapest, as the generally accepted usual time is not convenient for him as he would be away and could attend the church commemoration only later. It's surprising he wanted to take part in a church commemoration ceremony, but priests clearly rejected the strange dictations by Gyurcsany. They have had the usual schedule for many years. It seems Gyurcsany, who even openly contradicted his father when in communist socialist times before 1989 he said he was not sure the revolution was counter-revolution. So Gyurcsany contradicted his father before 1989 that way, Gyurcsany considered 1956 as counter revolution, and not revolution as he says today. Counter revolution- we were taught in history books via brain wash method before 1989, where the real revolution men that Gyurcsany spoke in the British Parliament yesterday were considered just criminals,the enemy of the communist socialist system, and those who put the revolution down were considered. The thing that he managed to contradict his father that time as a young communist, as the secretary of the young communists before 1989, shows that Gyurcsany 'earlier' held a different view from the one he spoke about yesterday in London commemorating 1956...

best to all,
Zoli

dear All,

here below is the letter that was a reply some days ago to my friend to Vlad, after he collected some foreign article links ,mostly related to the first days caused by the leakage of the Gyurcsany tape in September:

dear Vlad,

thanks for the articles. Magyar Nemzet has an everyday column and there
they quote from the current significant press from all over the world,
including Hungary related issues, so i have heard many pieces of the info
that You included, of course, not in full, as these are longer pieces.

I will get back to the Arpad flag, which is a fairly confused issue, even in
Hungary, or I would say , it's in the interest of MSZP and SZDSZ to spread
the feeling of fear about that referring to that it symbolises the Nyilas
flag (Hungarian nazi) from World War II. In fact, if the flag was the sam,
it should bear the Nyilas cross, and of course those protesters taking that
flag to protests don't have that flag symbol. What is more, the Arpad flag
of red lines has been the symbol of Hungary for over 1000 years, even before
St.Stephen, our first king! The Arpad flag of red lines is also part of the
National Coat of arms used today everywhere, and army men make their
official vows to that ancient flag symbol!! It would be quite different if
that was with the Nyilas cross symbol combined together...Very different!!!

So when people take the Arpad flag, it's an ancient symbol, really void of
extremes. It's in the interest of the strange Hungarian left wing after
second world war to try to spread a lie about that. I guess the foreign
media should analyse the history of symbols. Maybe the time has come to do
so. Nobody wants extreme symbols, or false stamps. So when Hungarian people
see that our soldiers and officers and politicians and others make a vow
about their state services it's ok and normal for everyone, but when people
take the same flag to protests it's considered and associated with eytreme
groups? I don't carry that flag, but understand those who carry that to show
the links with our ancient roots from over 1000 years before!

And as i said before, there was not any EU flag burnt, it was just the invention of the government parties to spread abroad. At the MTV siege it's clear that some protesters climbed up the biuéding and for a moment took out the EU flag, but just to make sme room, for the Hungarian flag there, so they put the two next to each other. Those who spread news of any previous eu flag burning at the siege of MTV building are just victims of Hungarian pseudo socialist and pseudo liberal propaganda. It's much better to check news with own eyes...

---
So, just making clear: the above mentioned Arpad flag has only two colours: red and white parallel ,horizontal lines.(and nothing 'addidional' there, of course!!!) The flag was the flag of Arpad, one of the 7 tribes leader of Hungary about 1100 years ago. He was an important figure in our history, (even many years before Hungary took up Christianity in 1000 AD !)

Actually, there was a funny fact on Kossuth square yesterday when one of the speakers pointed out that one of the government ministers (an MSZP one, that is the pseudo socialist) was giving a speech at a press conference, and his tie had two colours, and looked very much like the Arpad flag.He seemed to enjoy his 'extreme' piece of clothes...

Something else, but also related:
some days ago in the European parliament at the annual European Parliament vote 8 EU Parliament representatives were chosen as the 'the EP representative of the year'. Among the 8 ones two Hungarian members were also chosen by the European parliament, and both of them are from Fidesz -that is the Hungarian opposition in Hungary!!! So Ory Csaba got this honourable title for his work for the field of employment, and the other Fidesz EP member, Jaroka Livia, also the very first Gypsy member ever of the European parliament got the title for her outstanding work in the field of minorities!!
These titles speak for themselves, and are really great pieces of news.

Anyway, Jaroka Livia has been a scheduled speaker on Kossuth square!

Like Gandhi did, peaceful resistance will benefit. This is our revolution. Every day. Till the undesired figure has finally left.
Today, again there were tens of thousands of people between 5 and 6 at the Fidesz protest.
one of the speakers today was the leader of the Hungarian Disc-Jockey association, with a very remarkable speech.

The pseudo liberal(SZDSZ) Demszky, that is, the recently re-elected Lord Mayor of Budapest with slight majority (only 1 member plus in the general assembly with his own vote)recently wanted a biased behind the scenes deal with Fidesz local government members, that is, Demszky, as the leader of Budapest, would let Fidesz hold its protests, but not others. It was clear that it was a shocking statement by Demszky which cannot be accepted by anyone. Freedom of speech must be sustained! The other thing is that, after that he is about to let protests go, but without any technical support, so he wants to interfere in the freedom of speech that way. That means this heavily anti-liberal attitude SZDSZ Lord Mayor wants to set up something against the freedom of speech.

thanks to everyone for any support, and help, in any way!
wishing everyone a nice week.
best,
Zoli

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian revolution and fight for freedom. It broke out on October 23, 1956. Unfortunately it was put down two weeks later with invading Soviet tanks. (The invasion was asked by Hungarian communists).

Yesterday the commemoration events started. T
he spark of the revolution was on 1956 October 22, at Muegyetem( Technical university), and only this year, shockingly, the deen of technical university banned the usual commemoration from the scene, the hall of technical university in the building. Our respected head of state, Solyom Laszlo made a speech at the commemoration too, which, thus, this year was in front of the technical university
,saying, he feels shocked by the deen's decision.
There was a big commemoration event with a lot of international leaders, and guests in the Opera house where Solyom Laszlo made a speech, next to the speech by Austrian head of state, Heinz Fischer there. (there was a symphony orchestra concert after that). Heinz Fischer was the second and the last speaker, and he was a student in 1956 in Austria and supported the revolution openly, with transparents in street. Some days ago there was a commemoration event in Austria where Solyom Laszlo gave a big Hungarian award to Heinz Fischer for his stand in 1956 for Hungary. There was a documentary film shown there and where the original words from the 1956 documentary film 'we lied in the morning, at night, in every band wave...' came, many people of the guests started laughing, remembereing the similar words by Gyurcsany Ferenc, from the leaked scandalous recording from May this year.
In addition, when he stated his speech there in front of the guests, when he stepped to the microphone , about 40 international guests left the room.

Today there will be several events commemorating 1956 revolution in Budapest and in Hungary. There are over 50 international politicians, royal family members invited and expected. As here, the scandalous prime minister Gyurcsany Ferenc is going to deliver speeches, the opposition parties of Fidesz and KDNP will not be present, as sign of protest. (before 1989-1990, Gyurcsany Ferenc, as leader of the young communist organization said 1956 was a counter revolution, some days ago, former (pseudo) socialist prime minister(1994-1998), Horn Gyula said in a German paper interview that he, as a leader of the communist army forces fired at the 'criminal mob' in 1956, and he thinks that 1956 was against communism. It seems he still goes with the counter-revolution idea, where those 1956 people fighting for freedom and against communism -one of the first things was to remove the communist Stalin statue!

till two days ago Gyurcsany and the government and the police wanted the Kossuth square protesters(against Gyurcsany and the (pseudo) socialist-liberal government(MSZP-SZDSZ) to leave the square for the commemoration event on the square with the high rank international guests, but Solyom Laszlo, our head of state(president), who used to be the leader of the constitutional court earlier, pointed out the illegal approach of the police against the protesters, and pointed out the basic citizen rights of protesters to stay there. Then, through the legal explanation via glasses of law, the police said they wouldn't do anything against the protesters and they can stay there while the state commemoration event. However, a strong metal fence was set up by the police dividing the square into two, also putting up big boards with photos from 1956, separating the protesters from the rest of the square. The protesters said they wouldn't disturb the commemoration, but will find a way to show their proters signs higher than the fences, both in English and Hungarian for the internatinal guests to get to know what they think and feel about the present government leadership, especially Gyurcsany.

This morning, I heard that, despite the head of state legal request in the protection of the protesters, the police , with 2000 policemen made the square be completely empty, so noone can be there presently. They closed all streets in the neighbourhood too.

Fidesz, the biggests opposition party called off its everyday 5-6 pm demonstrations in Kossuth square some days ago for the sake of the state commemoration (they won't be present ther as Gyurcsany will be there).
Today they will have their big commemoration ( Fidesz and KDNP) at Astoria, a junction in Budapest.( I will be present). Among other speakers, like Fidesz leader Orban Viktor, and legendary water polo player Karpati Gyorgy, the European parliament's biggest fraction (EPP) leader, Wilfried Martens will speak there too. In 1956, just like Heinz Fischer, he was a student and sympathised with 1956 revolution and the freedom for Hungary. (Karpati Gyorgy was the member of the Hungarian team at Melbourne Olympics
where Hungary defeated the Soviet team -there was blood, we were beaten physically , but we won the match)

wishing everyone a nice day!
best,
Zoli

today ,the police attacked innocent people, commemorators, old age people and women, shot tear gas, and rubber bullets, and fear is real bullets too. The brutality is inexpressible, and to me seems well organized.

it was quate strange that the police tried pushing the protesting crowd from Nyugati and its surruondings to Astoria and Blaha L.square, where the Fidesz commemoration was. I heard that even those at the edge of the Fidesz commemoration on Karoly bouleward watching the big screen could feel the tear gas, which is very strange, as it also shows some kind of conspiration, that the police brutality was/is well organized.

I met 3 girls in the street arriving from the direction of Nyugati after the Fidesz commemoration was over at Astoria (around 5.45 or 6pm), and they said they were walking in the street and police attacked them with tear gas and they could hear shots and saw water sprayed to people from Police car. These girls were just walking there, and were really shocked, and they don't know what kind of democracy this is where things like that happen.

I heard that about 150 old age people and women fund shelter in Katakomba restaurant, (not far from astoria).Police threw tear gas in the restaurant , which is situated in a cellar. You can imagine...

In the morning the police attacked old age people and women near Kossuth square who wanted to see the official ceremony. Many of them were covered in blood.

I told this (and also what i wrote in the post in the morning) to two people from BBC (i was called 4 times by two people, from two different BBC channels) who got my phone number from my English friend ,Ron. It was very kind from him to help that way. HirTV seemed to be blocked temporarily, especially on internet. Now the broadcast is ok, all tv channels are showing the news from different locations in Budapest.

best wishes,
Zoli

Then (1956):

Channel4 News (UK) (22/10/06)
Hungarian Uprising Revisited
http://www.channel4.com/news/special-reports/speci al-reports-storypage.jsp?id=3684


And Now (2006):

The Guardian (23/10/06)
Hungarian police clamp down on anti-government protests
http://tinyurl.com/ygtq2m

BBC News (23/10/06)
Rubber bullets at Hungary protest
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6078052.st m