István Balogh (politician)

Father István Balogh (30 March 1894, Budapest – 20 July 1976) was a Hungarian Catholic priest and anti-communist politician who later tolerated the rule of the Hungarian Communist Party.

Initially associated with the Independent Smallholders Party he became a supporter of Nazism for a time during the 1930s and from his base in Debrecen formed a version of the Hungarian National Socialist Party. Both he and Sándor Festetics were elected to Parliament for this group in 1936.[1] He was part of the Hungarian provisional government established in 1945 and travelled to Moscow to sign the 1945 armistice.[2]

After the war Balogh led the Independent Hungarian Democratic Party (FMDP), a minor opposition group which was largely controlled by the government.[3] His list captured 5.2% of the vote in the 1947 election[4] although his opposition soon died down and he effectively co-operated with the communists despite his personal reservations.[5] Although seen as a potential focus of dissent Balogh stayed away from any direct involvement in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Stanley G. Payne, A History of Fascism 1914-1945, London, Roultedge, 2001, p. 270
  2. ↑ 'A Meeting with the Members of the Provisional Government'
  3. ↑ "Too Much Medicine"
  4. ↑ J Rothschild & N. W. Wingfield 'Return to Diversity', p. 100
  5. ↑ László Borhi, Hungary in the Cold War, 1945-1956, p. 164
  6. ↑ Felix, Christopher. The spy and his masters: A short course in the secret war. pp. 235-252. Secker & Warburg (1963)
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