Freedom Express Arrives in Budapest

(MTI) – An international social and educational project dubbed Freedom Express, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the fall of Communism in Europe, arrived in Budapest on Wednesday.

The project initiated by the Warsaw-based European Network Remembrance and Solidarity (ENRS) is travelling through Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany. After stops in Gdansk and Warsaw, it will stay in Budapest for two days.

After the express arrived in Budapest, the organisers presented the itinerary for the stay which starts with a visit to the Memento Park where Communist-era statues are on display.

ENRS director Rafal Rogulski said Freedom Express is transporting 20 young people from 10 European countries and Costa Rica, all born after the collapse of Communism in Europe. Hungary is represented by Anna Rubi, currently a film student in Switzerland.

The project has been realised with the cooperation of cultural ministries and institutions specialising in 20th century history in the countries the express is travelling through. The Hungarian partners are the Ministry for Human Resources, research institute and archives for the history of regime change Retorki and the Polish Institute in Budapest.

On Wednesday afternoon, the participants met in parliament some key personalities from the time of the regime-change, including parliamentary speaker Laszlo Kover and former President Matyas Szuros.

Kover told the participants that many young professionals involved in the regime change were drawn into politics despite not preparing to become lawmakers. However, they felt they had a mission in life beyond practicing their original profession, he added.

Fidesz’s two-thirds majority was needed in 2011 to pass Hungary’s new consitution and this was the real regime change, Deputy House Speaker Sandor Lezsak said. He also mentioned Karol Wojtyla’s accession to the papal throne in 1978 as a cornerstone in Eastern Europe’s history.