November 17th, 2008

Free Democrats mark 20 years in politics; key figures skip celebration

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Hungary is in trouble, there is a greater need than ever for the Free Democrats, party chairman Gábor Fodor told a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the founding of the party in Újpest’s WAX gallery on Saturday.

Of the 1,000 guests at the ceremony, only one of the seven former party leaders was in attendance, János Kóka. Founding chairman János Kis and Budapest mayor Gábor Demszky were abroad, but others gave no explanation for their absence. Senior party official Gábor Horn said many did not show up because they are bitter.

Kóka said the task of the Free Democrats is to defend capitalism. Quoting Demszky, Kóka said the Free Democrats will be necessary until all parties accept a minimum level of liberal values.

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One Comment

  1. sheesh says:
    November 17, 2008 at 3:09 pm

    Fodor may be more sensible than any other SZDSZ chairman before him but the people behind his party are just the same money-grubbing opportunists. In fact, the only difference is that by now all the level-headed intellectuals have left the party, surprise, surprise. All they have now is a bunch of powerful scumbags like Kóka, Demszky, Magyar, Horn, etc. Fodor being somewhat of an idealist and short of political maneuvering skills doesn’t help either. Sad agony of a party that once used to have the best intellectual potential.