The bill would ban the use of symbols such as the swastika, the arrow cross, the sickle and hammer and the red star for commercial purposes 30 days after the bill’s approval although their use would not become a criminal offense until the start of next year.

Addressing the press conference, answering a question about how Dutch beer company Heineken, whose logo features a five-pointed red star, had impacted the bill, János Halász, deputy spokesman for Fidesz’s parliamentary group said the bill aimed to “eliminate [those symbols’] pollution of the visual environment”.

Halász confirmed that the bill targets Heineken’s use of a red star, among other companies and symbols, but added that the ruling parties had no intention of banning the beer. He noted that mineral water bottler San Pellegrino also features a red star on its products.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.