According to the Budapest account

Three months later, the opposition demands a review of the election result

In Budapest, the capital of calm and rather boring Hungary, clashes broke out yesterday. Supporters of the right-wing forces, who lost the parliamentary elections back in April, unexpectedly took to the streets, protesting against falsifications and fraud, thanks to which, in their opinion, the ex-communists (Socialist Party), heirs of the memorable Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party of János Kádár, won with a minimal margin. The center-right that lost power (the Fidesz Union of Young Democrats, represented by former Prime Minister Viktor Orban) immediately declared dissatisfaction with the vote count, but the OSCE did not see any violations, calling the elections fair. After this, the situation defused, the leader of the Socialists, 59-year-old ex-banker Peter Medgyessy, formed a coalition government, which included liberals along with his party.

However, in June a scandal broke out, almost ending in a government crisis. Journalists from the right-wing newspaper Magyar Nemzet obtained documents indicating that in the 70s and 80s Medgyesi collaborated with the counterintelligence of socialist Hungary. The prime minister was summoned to parliament, where he acknowledged the authenticity of the documents, but did not express any remorse. “I protected Hungarian secrets about Hungary’s intention to join the IMF from foreign agents. I want to emphasize that the counterintelligence officer is not an informer. Counterintelligence and intelligence are the oldest professions designed to protect state,” said Mr. Medgyesi. He served as a counterintelligence officer in the Hungarian People's Republic Ministry of Finance in 1977-1982. It was then that Hungary tried to break away from Soviet influence, entering into secret contacts with the IMF in 1982 and considering joining the EEC. Medgyesi said that he was ready to leave if the coalition wanted it, but his comrades did not let him go, to the deep displeasure of the right.

The session of revelations did not end there - it was the turn of the opposition. Last Wednesday, Fidesz leader Zoltan Pokorny resigned, having learned a terrible secret from his father the day before. Experienced dissident Janos Pokorny admitted that he had been an informant for the Hungarian secret police for many years. Television reported this a day earlier. Pokorny Jr. found it impossible for himself to remain in office, but called the scandal revenge of the socialists for his demand for Medgyesi's resignation. After this, unrest broke out. The organizers of the protests demanded that the ballots be recounted and that the government be dismissed. “The communists simply won’t get away with this fraud!” fumed the demonstrators. At first, several dozen people blocked the bridges in the city center, then there were several hundred of them, and the police had to force them out of the streets. The mayor of Budapest, Gabor Demski, called the actions of right-wing supporters “illegal extremist protests.” Prime Minister Medgyesi, who is on a visit to Rome, also sharply criticized the actions of opponents, calling on them to remain within the framework of democratic procedures.

Hungarian politicians fear that unexpected instability could prevent the successful conclusion of negotiations on Hungary's accession to the European Union since 2004. Even one of the leaders of Fidesz, Tamás Deutsch, saying that in principle he understands the dissatisfaction of citizens, made it clear that his party does not support the methods of the protesters.

Igor MAKSIMOV