9:47 am
He explained why he considers it necessary to realize radical reforms in Hungary. He used many profane words in his speech, and confessed that the government has lied to the Hungarian people in recent years and has not told the truth about the situation in Hungary. The publication of this material, and the fact that the Prime Minister fooled the people, led to immediate mass protests.
On Monday, September 18 more and more people began to demonstrate in front of the Hungarian Parliament demanding the Prime Minister's resignation. By the evening the number of people was about 10,000. Most of the orators criticized the government and began to demand a new 1956, a new reckoning with Communists. (By using this word, the demonstrators usually meant the actual Hungarian Socialist Party and not our Party).
That same evening, a part of the demonstrators went to the Hungarian State Television to publish their declaration. The Hungarian police did not allow them to enter the TV building. The police used water-cannons and teargas grenades.
In the late evening, the demonstrators began to assault the TV building, and after heavy conflicts they seized it after midnight. It was liberated by the police some hours later. About 200 people were wounded, most of them policemen, and the material losses were very high.
The demonstrators seriously damaged the Monument of Soviet Heroes in front of the TV building.
The Presidium of the Hungarian Communist Workers' Party analyzed the situation and issued the following estimation:
1. Hungary is in a deep constitutional and political crisis. The main reason for the crisis is the policy of the ruling Hungarian Socialist Party and its partner, the Party of Free Democrats.
As all of you know, the Hungarian Socialist Party won the parliamentary elections in April 2006 and formed a coalition government with the Party of Free Democrats. The new government, headed by Ferenc Gyurcsany, continued the neoliberal policies of the former government and introduced a program of radical economic and political reforms. This reform package is nothing more than a program of capitalist rationalization.
With this package, the government wants to fulfil the so-called Maastricht criteria and introduce the Euro in Hungary. This program means higher prices, higher taxes, payment for medical services, obligatory fees for university education, etc. Millions of people already face every day difficulties. The majority of the people are beginning to realize just what neoliberalism means, and this has led to a serious rise in dissatisfaction. At the same time, people feel alienated and manipulated and that they do not have any real possibility of influencing political decisions.
2. The majority of the people went onto the streets in recent days to protest against these neoliberal policies and the violation by the Prime Minister of elementary norms of political morality.
3. This anti-government demonstration does not mean revolution. It means that people do not want any more lies and manipulation. It means that they are against a policy which takes away everything from the poor. They have not joined forces with the aim of changing the capitalist system.
4. Some radical right forces and even extremists are using the mass dissatisfaction of the people for their own political and personal aims.
5. The Hungarian Communist Workers' Party considers that the only real solution is the resignation of the Prime Minister. At the same time, we demand the convocation of a new national assembly for the adoption of a new constitution.
6. The HCWP condemns the use of force and demands that the government guarantee the security of all citizens.
Presidium Hungarian Communist Workers' Party
