BECAUSE OF POPE'S VISIT
Hungary releases right-wing terrorist
In Hungary, far-right terrorist György Budahazy was released Thursday evening. Budahazy and those convicted with him had earlier been pardoned by President Katalin Novak, citing Pope Francis' visit to Hungary.
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Novak - an ally of right-wing nationalist head of government Viktor Orban - said it had been decided to suspend the prison sentence of the Hunnia members. According to the Sandor Palace dispatch, the pope's visit to Hungary was a special occasion for the head of state to use his right of amnesty. The opposition sees it differently, saying the pardon is another gesture by Prime Minister Orban's ruling FIDESZ party to far-right voters and a legitimization of far-right terror. Opposition member and former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany condemned the government's decision on Facebook Friday as "crazy and dishonest." A victim of Budahazy's Hunnia group, Sandor Csintalan, criticized it as "sacrilege" to use the pope as a reason for such an "immoral and scandalous" decision. The president, he said, was making Budahazy "a national hero, a kind of Robin Hood."
Online since today, 21.27
Novak - an ally of right-wing nationalist head of government Viktor Orban - said it had been decided to suspend the prison sentence of the Hunnia members. According to the Sandor Palace dispatch, the pope's visit to Hungary was a special occasion for the head of state to use his right of amnesty. The opposition sees it differently, saying the pardon is another gesture by Prime Minister Orban's ruling FIDESZ party to far-right voters and a legitimization of far-right terror. Opposition member and former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany condemned the government's decision on Facebook Friday as "crazy and dishonest." A victim of Budahazy's Hunnia group, Sandor Csintalan, criticized it as "sacrilege" to use the pope as a reason for such an "immoral and scandalous" decision. The president, he said, was making Budahazy "a national hero, a kind of Robin Hood."
Pope Francis and Hungarian President Katalin Novak during the Pope's current visit.
Arson attacks on party offices and politicians' houses
Budahazy, the leader of far-right groups, had been convicted of terrorism, assault and coercion. He and the terrorist organization he founded, Arrows of Hungary or Hunnia Movement, carried out numerous arson attacks on the houses of politicians and on party offices between 2007 and 2009 with other right-wing extremists from his groups.
Budahazy, the leader of far-right groups, had been convicted of terrorism, assault and coercion. He and the terrorist organization he founded, Arrows of Hungary or Hunnia Movement, carried out numerous arson attacks on the houses of politicians and on party offices between 2007 and 2009 with other right-wing extremists from his groups.
Hungarian President Katalin Novak
Plans to attack the homes of three members of parliament with bombs hidden in soccer balls were foiled by police in 2009. Budahazy called for a Greater Hungary as in the pre-1920 borders.
Riots and tumults at verdict announcement
Budahazy had been sentenced in 2016 to 13 years in prison for terrorist actions. Many of his supporters attended the first pronouncement of sentence. Towards the end of the hearing, riots broke out and Budahazy's supporters called the judge a "murderer" and a "blood judge. She then had the police clear the courtroom.
Riots and tumults at verdict announcement
Budahazy had been sentenced in 2016 to 13 years in prison for terrorist actions. Many of his supporters attended the first pronouncement of sentence. Towards the end of the hearing, riots broke out and Budahazy's supporters called the judge a "murderer" and a "blood judge. She then had the police clear the courtroom.
Budahazy during an arrest in 2009
Both the prosecution and Budahazy's defense attorney appealed the 2016 first-instance verdict. In 2018, the verdict was overturned by a Budapest court and a new trial was initiated, in which Budahazy was sentenced to 17 years in prison in the first instance in March 2022. This year, the sentence was reduced to six years in the second instance. Since credit was given for the sentence already served, he would have had to spend another two to two and a half years in prison, according to his lawyer in Hungarian media, according to the website Telex.hu.
Riding off with the horse
According to Hungarian media, relatives, friends, supporters were waiting for Budahazy's release in front of a penitentiary near Budapest. They also brought a horse, according to the media. Budahazy had come out of prison smiling and with a bag on his back, Telex.hu said.
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He then mounted the horse - a symbol of Hungary's rebellious past among the far-right - raised his fist, shouted "freedom" and rode to the nearest inn, Hungarian broadcaster Klubradio reported. On Sunday, on the occasion of Pope Francis' mass in Budapest's Kossuth Square, he wanted to express his gratitude to the pope for traveling to Hungary and thus making his pardon possible, Budahazy said.
Riding off with the horse
According to Hungarian media, relatives, friends, supporters were waiting for Budahazy's release in front of a penitentiary near Budapest. They also brought a horse, according to the media. Budahazy had come out of prison smiling and with a bag on his back, Telex.hu said.
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He then mounted the horse - a symbol of Hungary's rebellious past among the far-right - raised his fist, shouted "freedom" and rode to the nearest inn, Hungarian broadcaster Klubradio reported. On Sunday, on the occasion of Pope Francis' mass in Budapest's Kossuth Square, he wanted to express his gratitude to the pope for traveling to Hungary and thus making his pardon possible, Budahazy said.
Hungarian right-wing radicals at a demonstration in Budapest in 2009
Connection to Jobbik
Budahazy was also close to the far-right Jobbik party. But Jobbik transformed from far-right to a more nationally conservative party. In the 2000s, the Movement for a Better Hungary still marched through Roma villages with the Hungarian Guard, which was later banned, and was openly racist and anti-Semitic. Before the 2018 parliamentary election, however, the party leadership at the time began a swing in a moderate-conservative direction. After the disappointing performance in the election and the splitting off of the more extremist wing, Peter Jakab took over the leadership of the crisis-ridden party in early 2020.
Right-wing split
Jakab consistently continued Jobbik's moderate-conservative line. In the process, he did not conceal the fact that he has Jewish ancestors - a few years earlier, this fact would have been unthinkable in Jobbik's leadership. In the last election in 2022, Jobbik and Jakab lost many voters. They defected in droves to Jobbik's far-right split, Mi Hazank (Our Homeland), it was said after the parliamentary election.
red, ORF.at/agencies
Source (Austria)
Budahazy was also close to the far-right Jobbik party. But Jobbik transformed from far-right to a more nationally conservative party. In the 2000s, the Movement for a Better Hungary still marched through Roma villages with the Hungarian Guard, which was later banned, and was openly racist and anti-Semitic. Before the 2018 parliamentary election, however, the party leadership at the time began a swing in a moderate-conservative direction. After the disappointing performance in the election and the splitting off of the more extremist wing, Peter Jakab took over the leadership of the crisis-ridden party in early 2020.
Right-wing split
Jakab consistently continued Jobbik's moderate-conservative line. In the process, he did not conceal the fact that he has Jewish ancestors - a few years earlier, this fact would have been unthinkable in Jobbik's leadership. In the last election in 2022, Jobbik and Jakab lost many voters. They defected in droves to Jobbik's far-right split, Mi Hazank (Our Homeland), it was said after the parliamentary election.
red, ORF.at/agencies
Source (Austria)
