1988. december (307-326. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
i'l «HÜ«®(»RMM (^) OCTOBUW 1 J K* i rí' ír 'i'.'. j,3 Vi.i.-i ©m£ Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London, WC1A 2HN ‘ Tel. 01-430 2126 (from abroad 441-430 2126) 309/1988(E) 6th December, 1988 Independent Small-Holders Party*s Policies The Independent Small-holders, Agricultural Worker and Civil Party was formed on October 12th 1930 in Békés at a mass meeting of delegates from 11 counties. In the last 58 years the party has only operated illegally fór a few months, during the rule of the Arrow Gross from the 15th October 1944 until April 1945. In the 1945 elections it took 57% of the votes. Although it has nőt been officially ban- ned its operation was made impossible after the communist take-over in 1948 and a number of its leaders were imprisoned or interned. At the end of October 1956 the Small-Holders Party re-formed and it received three ministerial portfolios in Imre Nagy’s November 2nd govemment. After the Soviet military invasion it was ousted from public life as were the other democratic parties. Despite persecution the old members kept in contact and after three decades on December llth 1987 the first re-formed local organisation began to operate under the leadership of János Sós. On November 29th of this year Károly Grósz launched a sharp attack against them at a Budapest communist meeting bút it continues to function and today there are already 24 local organisations and about two and a half thousand members. The policies in the party*s manifesto state that the "Independent Small-Holders Party was formed in 1930 by people who desired freedom and a better life" and that the policies adopted in the Béke’s meeting are still "valid today". The policies come under four headings: these concern foreign policy, democratic transformation of the country, economic and social issues and the environment and quality of life. The party welcomes the process of renewal in the Soviet Union, believes in Hungary*s neutrality and in greater intergration intő Europe, it stands fór the Hungárián minorities in neighbouring countries and wishes to attract Hungarians who live throughout the world back intő Hungary. The party "wishes to establish a modern Hungárián constitutional state which is based on European and national traditions"- namely free elections, a multi-party system, economic reforms, the separation of the various sections of state power and the convocation of a legislative popular assembly. It lays "special emphasis on morál renewal and the liquidation of the fusion of interests and the selection of the least able which ean be observed in all areas of social life". The policies of the Small-Holders Party are chiefly concerned with the organisation of the economy, social security and the defence of future generations, it alsó wishes to hold social and expert debates and occasional referenduma on all the most significant issues conceming the protection of the environment. The document finishes by saying that the "Small-Holders Party asks fór confidence and support in order to work fór the future and to serve freedom, equality, God, country and family." Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged.
