The legacy of the Hungarian Uprising

"Separate demonstrations are taking place all over Hungary on today's anniversary," notes Peter Martos 50 years after the Hungarian Uprising. "Yet the celebrations offer a rare, and perhaps unique opportunity for a different kind of 'demonstration', namely that unlike in the four decades of communism, no one is shut out of society. Hungary's democracy is not used to accepting different opinions. In the 17 years that have passed since the fall of communism there has been a changeover of power with practically every election. Most of the governments have been unable to reconcile the different forces at work in the country... On top of this we have an electoral system that favours clear majorities and land-slide victories. As soon as a government gets 'on course' its protagonists are elected out of office... Budapest's political scene, like Hungarian society as a whole, is deeply divided."

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