Orban says Antall's heritage still exerts influence

Even though Jozsef Antall died twenty years ago, his legacy exerts an influence on today's Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

The institutions of Hungary's parliamentary democracy strengthened as a result of Antall's devoted efforts, Orban said.

He was given the task to wake Hungary from "the daze of the Kadar era," Orban said. Hungary, which was described as the "happiest barrack" in the Socialist bloc was in reality "a brainwash camp for 10 million people" where people were taught to neglect politics and great plans. They were told instead that "it's best not to stand out of the line because greyness would never cause trouble," he added.

Speaker of Parliament Laszlo Kover said Antall was one of the real twentieth-century statesmen of Europe. During the collapse of Communism Antall was deeply committed to a Christian, responsibly nationalist and democratic direction, and, as a prepared politician, he became Hungary's first freely elected prime minister. Antall wanted a Christian Hungary since this would be its only future, he said, adding that his Christian beliefs were rooted in his European identity.