Wednesday July 10 to investigate links between politicians and the Soviet-era secret service, which monitored and often persecuted dissidents and religious minorities, including active Christians.
Deputies voted overnight to set up two parliamentary committees, one of which will specifically deal with the role of Socialist Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy, who admitted last month that he had worked for the communist counter-espionage services between 1977 and 1982.
Another committee will investigate the past of an estimated 200 government officials, such as ministers and state secretaries who were, or are, in power since the democratic changes in 1990.
The move came as Budapest prepared for several anti Government demonstrations on Thursday, July 11, and Friday, July 12, by possible tens of thousands of protesters who demand a recount of the votes of April’s Parliamentary elections, Hungarian Radio reported.
PEOPLE WOUNDED
Since last week smaller protests took place in down Budapest, and several people were wounded and dozens arrested after clashes with riot police. Demonstrators who briefly blockaded the Budapest Erzsebet (Elizabeth) bridge last week, told BosNewsLife they are outraged that Medgyessy refuses to resign.
"Mr. Medgyessy is an ex-agent, that means that several foreign secret agencies might have information regarding his past," said protester Zoltan Csuka, a 31 year old marketing expert. "I think it is not safe (for Hungary) to have such people in the Government," he added.
The revelations have created tensions between Hungary’s Socialist Party, which include former Communists, and its junior coalition partner Alliance of Free Democrats, who both form a slim majority of just 10 deputies in the 386 seat Parliament.
FIERCE ATTACKS
This developments also led to fierce attacks from the ousted right wing faction of former prime minister Viktor Orban — especially after national police chief Laszlo Salgo also said that he had trained as a spy and a counter-intelligence officer.
Orban’s Fidesz party has itself been hit by revelations, with former leader Zoltan Pokorni quitting national politics last week after finding out that his father "was forced" to work as an informer for the communist secret police for 33 years.
Experts have suggested that these political fights and street protests could have been prevented had Hungary opened its secret service files immediately after the democratic changes in 1990. Unlike other ex-communist countries, including former Eastern Germany, Hungary has so far refused to do.
PAINFUL FOR FAMILIES
Prime Minister Medgyessy warned therefore that the upcoming parliamentary investigations will be "painful for many Hungarian families," a clear suggestion that many Government officials may be implicated in former Communist secret service activities.
But Medgyessy has made clear it is time for Hungary to come to terms with its past, so that the country can look with pride towards the 21st century, when it will also join the European Union.
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