Janos Kadar Quotes

A collection of quotes by Janos Kadar.

Janos Kadar (1912-1989) was a Hungarian politician who served as the General Secretary of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party and the leader of Hungary from 1956 to 1988. Born in Fiume, Austria-Hungary (now Rijeka, Croatia), Kadar grew up in a working-class family and became involved in socialist politics from an early age.

In 1956, during the Hungarian Revolution, Kadar played a crucial role in the establishment of a new government and became the country's leader after Soviet forces quashed the uprising. Under his leadership, Hungary experienced relative stability after the tumultuous events of the revolution. Kadar successfully introduced economic reforms that aimed to address some of the grievances of the population and improve living conditions.

However, Kadar's rule was also marked by the suppression of dissent and strict control over the Hungarian Communist Party. The Secret Police, known as the AVO, was used to maintain strict party discipline and silence political opposition. Despite these repressive policies, Kadar succeeded in maintaining a level of popularity among the Hungarian people due to his efforts to improve living standards.

In the late 1980s, as Soviet influence in Eastern Europe waned, pressure for political change increased in Hungary. Kadar was forced to resign in 1988, and the country began its transition to a multiparty democracy. Janos Kadar's leadership, although controversial, represents an important chapter in Hungary's post-World War II history.