He noted that Austria’s GDP was 40% higher than Hungary’s before World War II, but the difference had grown to 150% by 1990. He said the “grave heritage” of communism on the new regime and successive governments had not been well communicated and this is why many people were lulled into illusions.

Parties of the political elite were unable to present opportunities in their real light, Kövér insisted. He added that another turning point was the economic crisis, when the hope of catching up with the West had melted, as the EU was in crisis itself.

Kövér said there were several challenges to face: the economic crisis, the demographic crisis and a crisis of morality or civilisation. The first freely-elected parliament after four decades of communist rule was assembled on May 2, 1990.

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MTI photo: Szigetváry Zsolt