Árpád Göncz

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Árpád Göncz (2008)
residence

Árpád Göncz [ ˈaːrpaːd ˈɡønts ] (born February 10, 1922 in Budapest ; † October 6, 2015 there ) was a Hungarian writer , translator and liberal politician . He was President of Hungary from 1990 to 2000 .

Career

Árpád Göncz (1937)

In 1944 Göncz completed his law studies at the University of Budapest , during which time he had been working at the National Agricultural Bank ( Országos Földhitelintézet ) since 1939 . In 1944 he was called up for military service, but shortly before the end of the war he deserted from his unit, which was ordered to Germany. He took part in the resistance, was captured by the Soviets several times, but was able to flee again and again.

First political activities

In 1945 Göncz joined the Independent Small Farmers Party ( Független Kisgazdapárt ) , where he was promoted to chairman of the youth organization; he was also editor-in-chief of the magazine Generations ( Nemzedék ) .

Under Mátyás Rákosi

After the ban on the Small Farmers' Party, Göncz worked as a laborer, welder and pipe fitter. From 1952 he studied for four years at the University of Agricultural Sciences (Agrártudományi Egyetem) in Gödöllő .

1956 and imprisonment

During the popular uprising in 1956, Göncz was active in the Hungarian Farmers' Union, after November 4th he worked on the formulation of the moratoria that the Hungarian Democratic Independence Movement handed over to state power. In 1957 he smuggled the manuscript of Imre Nagy's book “ In Defense of the Hungarian People ” (A magyar nép védelmében) abroad. He was arrested for this in May and sentenced to life imprisonment on August 2, 1958. In March 1960 he took part in a hunger strike in Vác Prison . In 1963, many political prisoners were given amnesty by János Kádár , and Göncz was released.

After the amnesty

After his release from prison, he worked as a translator at the Institute of Heavy Industry and Chemistry in Veszprém . He returned to Gödöllő University, but was excluded from studying. From 1965 he worked as a freelance writer and translator.

From the turning point to his death

Árpád Göncz and Ottilia Solt

In May 1988 he was involved in the founding of the Network of Free Initiatives (Szabad Kezdeményezések Hálózata) , later in that of the Association of Free Democrats (Szabad Demokraták Szövetsége - SZDSZ) . From 1988 Göncz was the spokesman for the SZDSZ, from 1989 its board member. He was also a co-founder of the Committee for Historical Revision (Történelmi Igazságtétel Bizottság) , then its vice chairman. From 1989 he was chairman of the Budapest branch of the League for Human Rights, from 1989 to 1990 he was chairman of the Hungarian PEN club . From May to August 1990 Göncz was President of Parliament and provisional President. At the suggestion of József Antall , he was elected President in August 1990 and held this office until August 2000.

Literary works

Göncz was the Hungarian translator of the Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien and Malcolm Lowry's Unter dem Vulkan . He himself wrote several novels and plays. In 1983 he received the Attila József Prize ; since 1994 he has been honorary chairman of the Hungarian PEN Club.

Novels and short stories:

  • Sarusok , Magvető, Budapest 1974; Ulpius-ház, 2003 (German: sandal wearer , Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, Berlin 1987, ISBN 3-374-00151-3 )
  • Találkozások , Magvető, Budapest 1980; Ulpius-ház, 2001
  • Hazaérkezés , published by Pátria Könyvek, 1991

Plays:

  • Magyar Médeia , Monodrama , Magvető, Budapest 1976
  • Rácsok , Magvető, Budapest 1979
  • Merleg; Pesszimista komédia; Perszephoné; Sarusok (6 dramas), Magvető, Budapest 1990

Awards

Árpád Göncz (2004)

Others

Göncz was married to Mária Zsuzsanna Göntér and the father of four children, including the former Hungarian Foreign Minister and current member of the European Parliament, Kinga Göncz . He was a member of the Club of Rome .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Angol Tamás: Meghalt Göncz Árpád . index.hu, October 6, 2015 (Hungarian).
  2. ↑ List of all decorations awarded by the Federal President for services to the Republic of Austria from 1952 (PDF file; 6.6 MB)
  3. ↑ Award of the special level of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany to the President of the Republic of Hungary, Dr. Arpad Göncz ( Memento from August 5, 2010 in the Internet Archive )

Web links

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personal data
SURNAME Göncz, Árpád
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Hungarian writer, translator and politician, Member of Parliament and President
DATE OF BIRTH February 10, 1922
PLACE OF BIRTH Budapest
DATE OF DEATH October 6, 2015
Place of death Budapest