Hungary to open Communist-era archives

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BUDAPEST: Following the April 12 elections, Prime Minister-elect Peter Magyar has pledged a definitive ‘system change’ for Hungary. The 45-year-old conservative, leader of the TISZA party, is set to be sworn in on May 9 and has vowed to implement wide-ranging reforms aimed at transparency. Central to this plan is the declassification of long-hidden Communist-era archives.

On Tuesday, Magyar announced that his government will make these secret files public on October 22. This date specifically precedes the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. 

The release will include notorious magnetic tape recordings and agent files currently held by state security archives.

Furthermore, Magyar plans to establish an investigative committee to examine the ‘plundering’ of state assets during the privatization period between 1988 and 2000. This move targets the financial beneficiaries of the country's transition to a market economy.

Reflecting his commitment to a fresh start, Magyar stated that his party's deputies will refuse to work in the parliamentary office building used since 1990. 

This decision is rooted in the building’s history as a former site for the communist secret police. By distancing the new administration from these physical and historical symbols, Magyar aims to fulfill a core promise of the post-1989 regime change.

Photo Credits: AFP