Hungary publishes communist-era informer files
On Wednesday, the Hungarian government began releasing secret service files from the communist era to the public. The "agent files" reveal the identities of people used by the Hungarian secret police as informers. The release of the files was one of Péter Magyar's campaign promises. What consequences will this have in the country?
Facts instead of speculation
Hungary is putting an end to decades of suspicion and rumours, writes Gazeta Wyborcza:
“The process of reviewing the communist past in Hungary has stirred up strong emotions for years, because the state didn't make the files accessible to academics, journalists or even the victims of the secret police. In the 2000s, alleged evidence emerged regarding individuals who were said to have denounced their fellow citizens. This led to scandals that resulted in the resignation of politicians. ... Researchers in Hungary estimate that of the 50,000 to 60,000 agents, several thousand are still alive. As of Wednesday, anyone can search for a name and find out who worked as an informant in Hungary during the communist era.”
Not just names, but history
The context behind the names must taken into consideration, investigative news website Átlátszó argues:
“While the responsibility of former unofficial collaborators is an important issue, the accountability of political leaders, state security officers and decision-makers who played a key role in the running of the dictatorship must not be overlooked. The true significance of the files now being released therefore lies not merely in the fact that further well-known names are coming to light, but also that more people will be able to learn about the history of their own families, their communities and the country as a whole during the dictatorship.”
A clever diversionary tactic
The Tisza government is not interested in transparency, says Konfront, an outlet with close ties to Fidesz:
“We now have the budget for next year, which is riddled with question marks and problematic issues: there are tax rises, coupled with economic growth of little more than zero percent, rising petrol prices and increasing unemployment. If society turns on itself again over the secret service files – and if people start to pass judgement on certain politicians or their ancestors without knowing the details (which, after all, will not be revealed until next February) – this will, at least for a while, divert focus and attention away from the challenges we face today and tomorrow. This is, in a sense, a clever move by the Tisza government, though one that is morally questionable.”