Mária Filep
Mária Filep, architect, main organizer of the Pan-European Picnic
The Beginnings of Political Involvement
Mária Filep was born in Debrecen in 1953. She completed her degree in architecture at the University of Debrecen then she was employed at the Hajdú County State Construction Company as an architectural engineer. She was the founding member of the Hungarian Democratic Forum in Debrecen, which was the first oppositionist organization in town. Lacking a proper organization and headquarters the members gathered in pubs and restaurants at weekends. The idea of a Pan-European Picnic first came up at one of these gatherings on 30 June 1989 in the garden of Old Vigadó Restaurant. Subsequently Mária Filep started organizing it with a few colleagues besides their work. Despite the fact that they used the office facilities (phone and telex) sometimes they still failed to get a line. She not only risked her job by doing that, but her freedom as well. Even though employers suspected something was going on they did not ask questions.
Organizing the Pan-European Picnic
On 10 June at Aranybika inn she asked the members of the Roundtable Talks of Debrecen to cooperate in organizing the picnic but a widespread cooperation has never been realised. Later she got in touch with the certain member of MDF involved in foreign policy, however, instead of support, they criticised her instead for her unprofessional interference. However, the Pan-European Picnic finally took place as a result of the painstaking work of MDF volunteers from Debrecen and Sopron and Mária Filep’s perseverance. Hundreds of East-German citizens broke through the border-closure and set off to neutral Austria while the event was taking place. By doing so, they practically started pulling down the wall. Due to that, the pressure from East German refugees flooding Hungary has eventually led to borders being opened on 11 September 1989. Mária Filep went on cooperating with the Hungarian Democratic Forum but in 1994 she decided to leave the party and gave up her political activity. She returned to her job but she still finds civil activity important in public life. She is the president of Hajdúság–Partium Preservation Society, which is committed to urban protection, architectural and natural heritage conservation and the member of the Board of Governors of the Hungarian Urban and Village Preservation Association.
Current Activities
She places special emphasis on preserving the heritage of the Pan-European Picnic: she was the founder of the Pan-European Picnic ’89 Foundation based in Sopron in 1998 and she is still the member of the Board of Trustees. In 2000 she organized a conference in Debrecen about the cyanide contamination and the consecutive ecological disaster. She also organized several exhibitions titled Changes in Central Europe to familiarize people with the ideas of the Pan-European Picnic in Hungary and abroad.
Acknowledgement
- She received the Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic, Officer's Cross in 1999.
- In 2004 she was awarded the Aphelandra prize for her contribution to the regime change.
This article is the translation of the Hungarian entry
Sources of the Hungarian text:
- Filep Mária visszaemlékezése, Debrecen, 2014. április 2. Határnyitás 25. < http://hatarnyitas25.kormany.hu/filep-maria-visszaemlekezese >
- Magos Márta visszaemlékezése, Debrecen, 1999. február 27. A Terror Háza Múzeum tulajdonában.
- Beszélgetés Nagy Lászlóval. Kétezer Irodalmi és Társadalmi Havilap, 2009/11. <http://ketezer.hu/2009/11/beszelgetes-nagy-laszloval-bizanci-megoldas-vagy-kontarmunka-a-paneuropai-piknik-tortenetehez/ >
- Jeszenszky Géza: Magyarország és a kommunista dominók eldőlése. Hitel, 2009/10. 75. <http://epa.oszk.hu/01300/01343/00093/pdf/hitel_EPA01343_2009_10_20091028-85348.pdf >
- Filep Mária: Legyen ügyfél a civil szervezet. Disputa. 2004. március. 37–39. http://www.deol.hu/disputa/2003-2004/Disputa_04-03.pdf
- Megalakult a Páneurópai Piknik ’89 Alapítvány. Sopron város honlapja. <http://www.sopron.hu/upload/varos/paneu-piknik/aktu005.htm >