PM’s political director: Hungary’s pro-peace stance rock-solid

Orban said that in politics remarks often got twisted, which is why he wanted “to set a couple of things straight” in connection with Hungary’s 1956 anti-Soviet revolution and freedom fight.

“The heroes of 1956 are national heroes, their memory is sacred and unassailable; those heroes were right and did the right thing,” he said.

In the context of the Russia-Ukraine war, the political director said: “Unfortunately, we have been under pressure from pro-war propaganda everyday for two and a half years. And this pro-war propaganda fears nothing, not even mixing up the memory of the 1956 heroes with the Russia-Ukraine war and what is happening on its frontlines.”

LMP cited Orban as suggesting that Hungary would not have set up defences against a Russian military aggression. Party co-leader Peter Ungar said Hungary had the right to defend its territory against an attack and called it “shocking” that a politician claiming to be “a patriot” would suggest otherwise.

The Socialists called the political director “a traitor” of his homeland and called for his resignation from politics, public life and departure from the country.

Peter Magyar, the leader of the opposition Tisza Party, said Orban had crossed all lines with his “outrageous remarks” with which he “had ended up using the 13 most brightly shining days of 20th century Hungarian history for foul everyday propaganda purposes”. Magyar called on the political director to resign.