Ex-Communist admirer of fascists László Kövér to dedicate Catholic Chapel in Washington DC

László Kövér is 55 years old. He is the Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly and also a founding member of the ruling Fidesz party. He started his remarkable political career as a junior “apparatchik” of the Hungarian Communist Politburo in 1986.

Born into a Communist family, he earned a law degree, and his contacts propelled him into a job high up in the Communist hierarchy. He became a trusted “researcher” of the Communist leadership, some suspect that his duties included reporting to State Security.

Later he switched colors and today he is a right-wing nationalist and an unapologetic admirer of Hungary’s World War II fascists.

Mr. Kövér pays respect to fascist politician and anti-Semitic writer Mr. József Nyirő in 2012.

Mr. Kövér pays respect to fascist politician and anti-Semitic writer Mr. József Nyirő in 2012.

Israel Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (currently President of Israel) told Kövér that he is not welcome in his country, saying that his government is “shocked” that he admires anti-Semites. (Read more about this here.) Mr. Kövér also praised Count János Esterházy, a convicted World War II criminal who died in prison in Czechoslovakia. Slovakia’s President Gasparovic called Esterházy a fascist. (Click here.) Mr. Kövér’s statements were criticized by Ronald Lauder, head of the World Jewish Congress and by Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, who wrote an angry letter condemning Kövér’s admiration for anti-Semites and later returned his state award in protest. (Elie Wiesel’s letter here.)

Mr. Kövér is not welcomed in most democratic countries, he has never been officially invited to the United States. Yet, the Embassy of Hungary in Washington, D.C. has come up with a clever scheme to “smuggle” Mr. Kövér into the US, in order to show the world that he is a presentable politician.

On Saturday, August 29, a new Hungarian Chapel (Magyarok Nagyasszonya kápolna) will be dedicated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Catholic Church in the United States. The new Chapel will be consecrated by Hungarian Cardinal Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom and Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington.

Ambassador Réka Szemerkényi will also host a “Hungarian feast and picnic” on the terrace of the Basilica with Hungarian politicians László Kövér and Miklós Soltész, State Secretary in charge of Church relations. (Click here to read the Embassy’s invitation to Hungarian Americans.) To my surprise Mr. Kövér’s name does not appear on the Basilica’s official program! (See here the Basilica’s program.)

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Ambassador Réka Szemerkényi plans to turn this religious event into a political circus by presenting Mr. Kövér as a Hungarian patriot, a humble Catholic who is dedicating a Chapel in the United States. It is a cheap communication stunt and Mr. Kövér should stay at home in Budapest, his presence at the dedication would be an embarrassment. We asked the Basilica and the office of Cardinal Wuerl for explanation.

György Lázár

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