Wikipedia Article
Fifty years ago, the Hungarian Revolution begun, which was beaten down by a Soviet intervention. The revolution demanded the life of about 2500 Hungarians and 700 Soviet soldiers. About 180'000-200'000 Hungarians fled to Austria and from there to many western countries. About 7000 of Switzerland's 12'500 Hungarian refugees decided to stay here and the vast majority of them had no problems to integrate themselves when it became clear more and more that the Iron Curtain will not fall. The Soviets installed a puppet regime that had to deal with passive resistance for months. It arrested more than 14'000 Hungarians and executed at least 229 persons.
Today Hungary is divided in a socialist and a right-conservative block with nothing left between the polarized movements. The regnant socialists are criticised for not distancing themselves clearly from the Stalinism period and for enriching themselves after the collapse of the communist era. The oppositional Fidesz is accused of anti-semitic tendencies and nationalistic ideas, missing the era before 1920 when Hungary was three times larger than now. September 18 a sound recording surfaced on which prime minister Gyurcsany said during a caucus: "We blew it. Not a bit, but really bad. In entire Europe no country f*cked it up like we did. (...) It is clear that we consistently lied during the last one and a half to two years (...) I could not name one governmental decision or activity during the last four years to be proud of". This sparked protests but the prime minister did not demise. The protests ebbed down and the concentration of nationalist protesters has risen in the last phase. The opposition boycotts today's festivities, so the Hungarians have to remember their fallen ones separately.
Hungary joined the European Union in 2004.
Fifty years ago, the Hungarian Revolution begun, which was beaten down by a Soviet intervention. The revolution demanded the life of about 2500 Hungarians and 700 Soviet soldiers. About 180'000-200'000 Hungarians fled to Austria and from there to many western countries. About 7000 of Switzerland's 12'500 Hungarian refugees decided to stay here and the vast majority of them had no problems to integrate themselves when it became clear more and more that the Iron Curtain will not fall. The Soviets installed a puppet regime that had to deal with passive resistance for months. It arrested more than 14'000 Hungarians and executed at least 229 persons.
Today Hungary is divided in a socialist and a right-conservative block with nothing left between the polarized movements. The regnant socialists are criticised for not distancing themselves clearly from the Stalinism period and for enriching themselves after the collapse of the communist era. The oppositional Fidesz is accused of anti-semitic tendencies and nationalistic ideas, missing the era before 1920 when Hungary was three times larger than now. September 18 a sound recording surfaced on which prime minister Gyurcsany said during a caucus: "We blew it. Not a bit, but really bad. In entire Europe no country f*cked it up like we did. (...) It is clear that we consistently lied during the last one and a half to two years (...) I could not name one governmental decision or activity during the last four years to be proud of". This sparked protests but the prime minister did not demise. The protests ebbed down and the concentration of nationalist protesters has risen in the last phase. The opposition boycotts today's festivities, so the Hungarians have to remember their fallen ones separately.
Hungary joined the European Union in 2004.
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