Orbán’s explicit praise of Horthy is a denial of Hungary’s fascist past

In a bizarre speech Hungary’s right-wing authoritarian strongman, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, recently called Miklós Horthy an “exceptional statesman.” Admiral Horthy, also an authoritarian (although some called him a dictator) led his country as Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary following the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I. He turned pro-Mussolini and pro-Hitler in the 1930s and entered World War II on Hitler’s side. (Read about the Orbán speech in the Austrian Kurier.) Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has since called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel his upcoming visit to Hungary, unless Mr. Orbán “personally and fully apologizes” for his statement, referring to the Hungarian prime minister in his open letter as “a semi-democratic leader” who “complimented a mass murderer.”

Just imagine if Chancellor Angela Merkel in Germany would praise the German Nazis, or if the Italian Prime Minister would call Benito Mussolini an “exceptional statesman.” Hungary is the only EU country where the government celebrates World War II fascists today.

Horthy (left) Hitler (right) were close allies

Horthy’s regime directly and indirectly was responsible for the murder of close to a million citizens. Almost 250,000 soldiers were sent to certain death in fighting the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front; Horthy’s own son died there. Over half a million rural Hungarians, declared Jewish by the race laws, were sent to concentration camps and few survived. As early as 1921 Horthy’s henchman butchered Serbs in the city of Novi Sad. Yet today the Orbán regime chooses to celebrate those who sided with Hitler and fought against the Allies.

You would expect that all American- and Canadian-Hungarian organizations would be up in arms protesting Mr. Orbán’s recent statements. Think again. Andrea Lauer Rice of the Hungarian American Coalition and Frank Koszorus Jr. of the American Hungarian Federation are mum. Why?

By any measure, Horthy was not an “exceptional” patriot; he was a corrupt fascist coward. On December 12, 1941, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Horthy’s regime followed Hitler and declared war on the United States. Hungary maintained warm relations with Imperial Japan. Horthy’s Prime Minister, László Bárdossy was executed as a war criminal in 1946. Horthy was also arrested by US troops but saved himself through his contacts with Stalin; the Russian Communists thought that the old turncoat would be useful for the Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe.

Praising Admiral Miklós Horthy today, the man who declared war on the Allies, is not only shameful but offensive. Mr. Orbán’s statement is disrespectful to the memory of Allied soldiers who lost their lives in the fight against fascism.

Let’s make it clear that the Hungarian Free Press strongly condemns Mr. Orbán’s statement. We also encourage our US and Canadian readers to contact their legislators, the Hungarian Congressional Caucus, co-chairs Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D) and Rep. Andy Harris (R), to express their dismay over Mr. Orbán’s statement and to raise their voices against those who are supporting the Horthy-cult in North America.

Horthy was the enemy of the United States and Canada. Even his descendants, many of whom live here in North America, refrain from praising him. In Budapest, Mr. Orbán has crossed the line. For the first time in post-WWII history a Hungarian Prime Minister has openly praised Horthy and flatly denied the country’s pro-fascist past.

Mr. Orbán and his supporters in the US and Canada deserve a strong response.

György Lázár

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