budapest: The sacrifice of the heroes of 1956 made the regime change, the withdrawal of the Soviets, and the restoration of Hungary’s sovereignty possible, stated Tristan Azbej, vice-president of KDNP, the smaller governing party, during a district commemoration at Ilonka Tóth Square on the national day of mourning.
According to KDNP, a simultaneous event titled “Let’s Build a Bridge!” was held by KDNP’s district organizations in Péter Mansfeld Park, Buda, on the anniversary of the 1956 revolution’s defeat and the Soviet troops’ entry. Tristan Azbej emphasized the remembrance of two young martyrs who defended Hungarian freedom and sovereignty with different means and weapons.
Péter Mansfeld took up arms against oppressive rule, whereas Ilonka Tóth used healing as her means of battle. Azbej described Tóth as a hero of patriotism, homeland, and love. He stressed that the martyrs’ sacrifice demands today’s Hungarians to fight for the nation’s sovereignty through different means.
Azbej highlighted how Hungary’
s history has been a constant struggle for freedom and survival. He mentioned that although the freedom struggle was crushed on November 4, the martyrs’ deaths eventually led to a happier, freer Hungary. The heroes’ sacrifice facilitated the system change and the Russians’ withdrawal, restoring Hungary’s sovereignty.
He remarked on ongoing challenges, noting that larger empires still attempt to exert influence over Hungary. As a proud nation, Hungarians do not tolerate being treated as puppets by perceived or real powers. Azbej asserted that Hungarians view the events of ’56 differently than pro-war and often neo-Marxist Western politicians, for whom it was merely a distant inconvenience.
He condemned the communists for attacking their own nation alongside a foreign army, creating a world where numerous families and destinies were destroyed. Vice President Azbej vowed never to forgive this betrayal.
Péter Solymoskövi, XVI district board member, mentioned that their events aimed to build a virtual bridge fr
om the spirit of the young martyrs, Ilonka Tóth and Péter Mansfeld. Sándor Petrovics, chairman of the Ilonka Tóth Orphanage Foundation, likened November 4 to the Trianon tragedy, emphasizing the importance of building bridges across the Danube between the memories of Pest and Buda’s martyrs.
Csaba Kerényi, KDNP II district politician, expressed that living in memory of the two martyrs sets a good example for the youth.
