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Janos Kadar is Replaced
Janos Kadar is replaced as the Prime Minister of Hungary. While awarded the presidency of the Hungarian Socialist Worker's Party, he has little power or control after his replacement. This marks the beginning of the move away from communism in Hungary. http://hungary.globalmuseumoncommunism.org/hungary/bios/kadar -
Period: to
Fall of Hungarian Communism
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Karoly Grosz Becomes Hungarian Prime Minister
Janos Kadar is replaced by Karoly Grosz as the Prime Misnister of Hungary. Janos left office due to the poor economy and appointed Karoly to begin reforms. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/246777/Karoly-Grosz -
Karoly Steps Down
Only a year after appointment, Karoly is forced to step down as Prime Minister. His economic reforms included the introduction of income taxes and value-added taxes. These reforms resulted in a rise in unemployment, inflation, and the cost of living. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/246777/Karoly-Grosz -
Hungarian Parliament Revises Constitution
In talks beginning on the 13th of June, major revisions to Hungary's constitution to increase the support of human rights and freedoms were discussed. In a session of Parliament on Ocotber 18, 1989, the ammendments were approved by a vote of 333-5. Voters would overturn several of the articles in the ammendments, but the document remained largely intact until 2011. http://www.princeton.edu/~pcwcr/reports/hungary1989.html -
Austria and Hungary Cut Fence on Border
Austrian Foreign Minister Alois Mock and Hungarian Foreign Minister Gyula Horn meet to cut holes in the barbed wire fence betrween Hungary and Austria. This symbolic gesture displayed easing tensions in Europe and the desire of both countries to end ideological conflict in Europe. http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,627632,00.html -
Pan European Picnic
Hungarian and Austrian citizens hold a demosntration on the Austria-Hungay border. A small wooden gateway is opened for a short time between the two nations as an act of unity. East Germans flooded through the gate and managed to escape into the west. The symbolic act of unity became an unanticipated escape route for refugees. http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,4580616,00.html -
Fall of Berlin Wall
On this date, the Berlin wall was offically considered dystroyed. Since part of the wall was on the Hungarian border, this allowed East Germans to enter into Hungry for the first time in many years. http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/reagan-tear-down.htm -
Re-opening of Budapest Stock Exchange
With the preperation of the Securities Act of 1989, a draft bill was sent to parlament in January of 1990, and by march, it was in force. The Budapest Stock Exchange, was made of 41 members who were set up a single equity, IBUSZ. The BSE played a large role in the privatisation of many Hungarian companies such as IBUSZ, Skála-Coop, MOL, and OTP. http://www.bse.hu/topmenu/about_us/history -
Hungary Removes Itself from Warsaw Pact
The Hungarian Parliament votes 232-0 to withdraw itself from any military Warsaw Pact activities with the stipulation that Hungary will remove itself from political affiliation and membership of the Warsaw Pact within the next year. http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1990_712105/warsaw-pact-role-rejected-by-hungary.html -
Soviet Soldiers Begin Withdrawal
Soviet Soldiers begin their return to Russia. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1054642.stm -
Soviet Army Completes Withdrawal
Soviet Army completes withdrawal from Hungary. This is the first time Hungary had been free from Soviet occupation or rule since the beginning of the Cold War.
