Imre Pozsgay
Encyclopedia
Imre Pozsgay is a Hungarian, ex-Communist, politician who played a key role in Hungary's transition to democracy after 1988. He is currently an advisor to prime minister Viktor Orbán
.
Pozsgay joined the Hungarian Socialist Workers Party after he graduated with an English degree from the Lenin Institute in Budapest. He worked for the party at both local and national levels and became deputy minister in 1975.
In the late 1980s, he was (although a member of the politburo
) one of the first major figures in Hungary to label the 1956 Hungarian revolution
not a counterrevolution but a "popular uprising".
His calls for reform (which he describes in his book Turning Point and Reform) lead to a falling-out with the party’s leader János Kádár
which in turn moved Pozsgay to become chairman of the party’s mass organization the Patriotic Front.
Kádár was removed from his Minister of State position in 1988 and Pozsgay was placed into his old position.
Jointly with Otto von Habsburg
, Imre Pozsgay was the sponsor of the Pan-European Picnic
of 19 August 1989, where hundreds of East Germans who were visiting Hungary were able to cross the previously impenetrable Iron Curtain
into Austria.
In October 1989, the Hungarian Socialist Workers Party renamed itself the Hungarian Socialist Party
and announced Poszgay as their Deputy President. However in 1991 he quit the party to form a new one, which he headed himself, called the National Democratic Alliance. It lasted until 1996.
Pozsgay was a member of the National Assembly of Hungary
from 1983 to 1994 and since then has been teaching at the University of Debrecen
.
Viktor Orbán
Viktor Orbán is a Hungarian populist and conservative politician and current Prime Minister of Hungary...
.
Pozsgay joined the Hungarian Socialist Workers Party after he graduated with an English degree from the Lenin Institute in Budapest. He worked for the party at both local and national levels and became deputy minister in 1975.
In the late 1980s, he was (although a member of the politburo
Politburo
Politburo , literally "Political Bureau [of the Central Committee]," is the executive committee for a number of communist political parties.-Marxist-Leninist states:...
) one of the first major figures in Hungary to label the 1956 Hungarian revolution
1956 Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian Revolution or Uprising of 1956 was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the government of the People's Republic of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956....
not a counterrevolution but a "popular uprising".
His calls for reform (which he describes in his book Turning Point and Reform) lead to a falling-out with the party’s leader János Kádár
János Kádár
János Kádár was a Hungarian communist leader and the General Secretary of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party, presiding over the country from 1956 until his forced retirement in 1988. His thirty-two year term as General Secretary makes Kádár the longest ruler of the People's Republic of Hungary...
which in turn moved Pozsgay to become chairman of the party’s mass organization the Patriotic Front.
Kádár was removed from his Minister of State position in 1988 and Pozsgay was placed into his old position.
Jointly with Otto von Habsburg
Otto von Habsburg
Otto von Habsburg , also known by his royal name as Archduke Otto of Austria, was the last Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary from 1916 until the dissolution of the empire in 1918, a realm which comprised modern-day Austria, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia,...
, Imre Pozsgay was the sponsor of the Pan-European Picnic
Pan-European Picnic
The Pan-European Picnic was a peace demonstration held on the Austrian-Hungarian border near the town of Sopron on 19 August 1989, an important event in political developments which led to the fall of the Iron Curtain and the reunification of Germany...
of 19 August 1989, where hundreds of East Germans who were visiting Hungary were able to cross the previously impenetrable Iron Curtain
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
into Austria.
In October 1989, the Hungarian Socialist Workers Party renamed itself the Hungarian Socialist Party
Hungarian Socialist Party
The Hungarian Socialist Party describes itself as a social democratic party in Hungary. It is the partial successor of the communist Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party , which ruled Hungary between 1956 and 1989. The decision to declare the party a successor of the MSZMP was controversial, and...
and announced Poszgay as their Deputy President. However in 1991 he quit the party to form a new one, which he headed himself, called the National Democratic Alliance. It lasted until 1996.
Pozsgay was a member of the National Assembly of Hungary
National Assembly of Hungary
The National Assembly or Diet is the parliament of Hungary. The unicameral body consists of 386 members elected to 4-year terms. Election of members is based on a complex system involving both area and list election; parties must win at least 5% of the popular vote in order to enter list members...
from 1983 to 1994 and since then has been teaching at the University of Debrecen
University of Debrecen
The University of Debrecen is a university located in Debrecen, Hungary. It is the oldest continuously operating institution of higher education in Hungary .-History:...
.