Imre Pozsgay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Imre Pozsgay
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Imre Pozsgay in June 2012
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| Minister of Education | |
| In office 27 June 1980 – 25 June 1982 |
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| Preceded by | Károly Polinszky |
| Succeeded by | Béla Köpeczi |
| Minister of Culture | |
| In office 22 July 1976 – 27 June 1980 |
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| Preceded by | László Orbán |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as Minister of Education) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 November 1933 Kóny, Kingdom of Hungary |
| Died | 25 March 2016 (aged 82) Budapest, Hungary |
| Political party | MDP (1950–1956) MSZMP (1956–1989) MSZP (1989–1990) NDSZ (1991–1996) |
| Children | 2 |
| Profession | politician |
Imre András Pozsgay (26 November 1933 – 25 March 2016) was an important Hungarian politician. He played a big part in helping Hungary change from a Communist country to a democracy after 1988.
He held several important jobs in the government. He was the Minister of Culture from 1976 to 1980. Then he became the Minister of Education from 1980 to 1982. Later, he served as a Minister of State from 1988 to 1990. He was also a Member of Parliament (like a representative) from 1983 to 1994.
Contents
Life and Political Journey
Early Life and Joining the Party
Imre Pozsgay was born in a place called Kóny on November 26, 1933. His father was a tailor. After finishing school, he joined the Hungarian Working People's Party (MDP) in 1950. This party had set up a one-party system, meaning they were the only political party allowed.
After the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, the main state party changed its name. Imre Pozsgay became a member of this new party, called the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party (MSZMP). He studied English at a university in Budapest.
Rising in Government
From 1976 to 1980, Imre Pozsgay was the Minister of Culture. This meant he was in charge of things like arts and heritage. In 1980, his ministry joined with the Ministry of Education. He then became responsible for both education and cultural matters.
He also became a member of the MSZMP's Central Committee. This was a very important group within the ruling party. As a minister, he helped create the independent Katona József Theatre in 1982.
Pushing for Change
In 1982, Imre Pozsgay started asking for big changes in the country. He even wrote a book about his ideas. This led to disagreements with the party's leader, János Kádár. Because of this, Pozsgay moved to a different role. He became the Secretary-General of a large organization called the Patriotic People's Front.
In 1983, he was elected as a Member of Parliament. He returned to a government role in 1988 as a Minister of State. He was also part of the Politburo, another very powerful group in the party, until it was dissolved in 1989.
Key Role in Transition to Democracy
Imre Pozsgay made a very important statement on January 28, 1989. He was the first person from the ruling Communist party to call the 1956 Hungarian revolution a "popular uprising." Before this, the government had always called it a "counter-revolution." This was a huge step towards recognizing the truth about the past.
He also took part in the reburial of Imre Nagy in June 1989. Imre Nagy was a leader during the 1956 revolution who was executed. His reburial was a very emotional and important event that helped speed up the changes in Hungary.
Pozsgay also helped with the Paneuropean Picnic on August 19, 1989. This event allowed hundreds of East Germans to cross the Iron Curtain (the border separating East and West Europe) into Austria. This was a big moment for freedom and showed that the old system was breaking down.
The ruling Communist party started talking with opposition groups. These discussions were called the Round Table Talks. They worked together to plan how Hungary would become a democracy.
There was a big discussion about who would be the country's president after communism. Some parties thought Pozsgay would win if the people voted directly. So, a special vote, called a referendum, was held on November 26, 1989. People voted to have the president chosen by the parliament after the next election, not directly by the people.
In 1989, Pozsgay gave his personal papers and records to the Hoover Institution Library and Archives. This was so future historians could learn about Hungary's transition to democracy.
After the Change
In October 1989, the Hungarian Socialist Workers Party changed its name to the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP). Imre Pozsgay became their Deputy President. He was also their candidate for President of Hungary in 1990.
He served as the leader of his party's group in parliament for a few months. In November 1990, he left the party and became an independent Member of Parliament. In 1991, he started a new party called the National Democratic Alliance. This party tried to combine different political ideas. However, it did not win any seats in the 1994 election and later dissolved.
From 1996 to 2001, he was part of the World Federation of Hungarians. This group connects Hungarians living all over the world.
Imre Pozsgay also taught at the University of Debrecen starting in 1991. He also lectured at the Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary from 2003. He received the Hungarian Heritage Award in 2003 for his contributions. In 2012, he started a journal called Stádium. He was also given the Saint Stephen Prize in 2015.
He continued to be involved in politics as an adviser. In 2005, he joined a group advising Viktor Orbán, who later became Prime Minister. In 2010, when a new government started to write a new constitution, Pozsgay was part of the team advising the Prime Minister on this important task.
Death
Imre Pozsgay passed away on March 25, 2016, at the age of 82. The government sent its condolences to his family. They said that Pozsgay played a very important role in Hungary's change to democracy. They noted that even though he was a part of the Communist and Socialist parties, he cared deeply about the future of his country and its people.
Awards
In 2010, Imre Pozsgay received the Dr. Rainer Hildebrandt Human Rights Award. This award is given to people who show amazing, peaceful dedication to human rights.
Selected Works
- Szocialista társadalom és humanizmus (1978)
- Demokrácia és kultúra (1980)
- Októberi kérdések (1988)
- Esélyünk a reform (1988)
- Politikuspálya a pártállamban és a rendszerváltásban (1993)
- Koronatanú és tettestárs (1998)
- A rendszerváltás (k)ára (co-author with Tibor Polgár, 2003)
